THE MARYLAND HORSE COUNCIL ONE COMMON BOND - THE HORSE • ONE COMMON VOICE - MARYLAND HORSE COUNCIL
MHC 2018 Year in Review
T is past year has been one of many changes for the Maryland Horse Council. First as many of you are aware, the Maryland Horse Council acquired T e Equiery in January 2018. T e Equiery is Maryland’s only all-breed, all-sport, digital and print horse publication. With T e Equiery, MHC has acquired a turn-key multi-media publish- ing and marketing entity that will enable the Council to not only better serve its membership but to also reach the entire Maryland equestrian community. “For MHC, with T e Equiery we will be able to increase our reach to many more potential members throughout the state and [it will] give us a greatly expanded communications vehicle to keep our membership up to date on everything we are doing around the state,” said MHC President, Neil Agate. T roughout 2018 the Horse Council developed a new strategic plan for the combined entity of MHC and T e Equiery, a plan that optimizes both the revenue and distribution for T e Equiery, and membership and messaging for MHC. T is new strategic plan leads the Council in new directions that will enhance both the MHC and Equiery’s reach, such as enhanced member services and an expanded schedule of events. In fact, the Maryland Horse Council also hired its fi rst full-time Ex-
ecutive Director, Carrie Hull, to lead not only MHC, but T e Equiery, and the newly established Maryland Equine Transition Service, which provides owners with the knowledge and tools to successfully transition their horses into their next chapter!
Legislative Committee Report
During the 2018 Maryland legislative session, the MHC Legislative Committee reviewed all the bills, ultimately monitoring the progress of about 40 bills under a variety of topics, from natural resources to ag- riculture, from taxes to criminal law. Serving on the committee were President Neil Agate, Vice President Steuart Pittman, former President Jane Seigler, former Secretary Crystal Brumme Pickett, Christy Clagett, Jennifer Webster, Gale Monahan, JoAnne Stone, Joe Michael, Jacquie Cowan, and Kim Egan Rutter.
Members of the committee visited legislators and testifi ed at commit- tee hearings in support of or opposition to some bills of concern. Offi cial MHC Letters in support of or opposition to legislation were crafted and submitted. Members of the equestrian community were encouraged and recruited to attend certain hearings and testify. In the 2018 session, MHC stared down yet another broad bill that would
have expanded Sunday wildlife hunting. For almost 20 years, MHC has lobbied for retaining some window of fi rearm-free access to public lands during gunning season. Meanwhile, MHC works with the Maryland Farm Bureau and other groups to ensure eff ective deer management controls. T e 2018 bill included broad provisions for Sunday hunting of all species. MHC was able to defeat the bill, with the help of MHC’s registered lob- byist Frank Boston, who provides guidance and critical assistance helping MHC build infl uential relationships in Annapolis.
Other bills which passed in the 2018 session and are of interest to our community include: • HB 7 & HB 119: Supporting Programs T at Support Eff ective Deer Harvesting - Venison Tax Credit • HB 198: Inheritance Tax & Perpetual Conservation Easements
www.equiery.com | 800-244-9580
• HB 212: Ownership Ban for Convicted Animal Abusers • HB 1177: Racing Anti-Doping Compact • HB 1721: Preakness & International Incentives • SB 610: Forest Conservation Task Force • SB 851: Injured Jockey Fund • SB 1140: MD Ag Land Preservation Fund - defi ning the term “children” to include step-children
For more information on these bills, go to
https://www.mdhorsecoun-
cil.org/legislative-blog/item/275-2018-mhc-legislative-wrap-up
Farm Stewardship Committee Report T e MHC Farm Stewardship Committee founded and chaired by Jane
T ery has also been extremely active this year! In 2017, MHC was successful in including MHC in the list of orga-
nizations to participate in a new statutorily created “Yard Waste, Food Residuals, and Other Organic Materials Diversion and Infrastructure Study” being led by the Maryland Department of the Environment. In 2018, representing MHC, Farm Stewardship Chair Jane T ery ensured that language requiring: “Partner with MDA and the Maryland’s horse industry to provide outreach to operators of horse farms regarding compost- ing of horse manure. T is outreach may take the form of a training session or workshop” was included in the Study Group’s offi cial comments on draft regulations. We will continue participating in the Study Group in 2019.
Other 2018 Farm Stewardship accomplishments: • Conducted a high-level meeting at Waredaca Farm with owner Rob- ert Butts; Neil Agate, President, Maryland Horse Council; Ross Ped- dicord, Executive Director, Maryland Horse Industry Board; Dwight Dotterer, Administrator, MDA Nutrient Management Program; Jane Seigler, former president, Maryland Horse Council; Maryland Horse Council board members, John Blackburn and Carolyn Krome; Dan Johannes, representative of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation; and Me- lissa Filiaggi, representative, Maryland Environmental Service. • Provided a letter of support for the continuation of the Farm Stew- ardship Certifi cation and Assessment Program (FSCAP) of the As- sociation of Soil Conservation Districts • Began discussions re: launching a horse-farm only initiative under the Maryland Department of Agriculture, that will be similar to FS- CAP. In 2019, will follow up on this, including providing a recom- mended list of specialists qualifi ed to prepare nutrient management and conservation plans for horse farms. • Provided a letter of support for expanding composting, including for horse manure, in Harford County. • Composting of horse manure promoted through MHC website blog posts and information on workshops.
Stay tuned for the spring Maryland Horse Council Farm Stewardship Committee Meeting at the headquarters of the Chesapeake Bay Foun- dation in Annapolis!
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JANUARY 2019 | THE EQUIERY | 7
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