Industry Professional Members THE MARYLAND HORSE COUNCIL
by Kimberly K. Egan, MHC President
MEMBER NEWS Congratulations are in order for Jennifer Sulin-Stair of Plot Twist
Horse Farm, who has been appointed by Governor Moore to the Trails and Recreational Riding seat on the Maryland Horse Industry Board (MHIB). Her term will last for four years. MHIB is housed within the Maryland Department of Agriculture and is the commodities board for the horse industry. Part of its statutory mission is to advise the Administration about issues that affect the horse industry, and to help grow the industry overall. Sulin-Stair is an excellent choice to serve in that role. As we reported in these pages in 2018, she started Plot Twist Horse Farm after a career in health education, and describes her decision to switch careers as an important “Plot Twist” in her life. She now offers weekly lessons for be- ginners aged five and up at her farm’s Glenwood location. Sulin-Stair began riding 35 years ago in the Howard County Pony Club, and later groomed and rode for Kimberly Stewart of Glenwillow Farm on the “A” circuit. She still rides competitively, and most recently was the Reserve Champion in the Green Horse division in the BEST show series. A hearty congratulations from all of us at MHC!
In addition to Sulin-Stair, another MHC Industry Professional mem-
ber, Erin Ochoa, CEO of Days End Farm Horse Rescue (DEFHR), has been reappointed to another four-year term as the Humane Societies representative to MHIB. Ochoa is a native Marylander who grew up in U.S. Pony Club and riding with the Potomac Valley Dressage As- sociation. She is a Certified Public Manager through the University of Baltimore as well as a Certified Equine Investigator and Animal Control Officer. She testifies regularly in criminal equine neglect and abuse cases all over Maryland. DEFHR in general, and Ochoa specifically, are ter- rific advocates for horses in our state, and we are thrilled that Governor Moore understands and values their important contributions.
Te Retired Racehorse Project (RRP) published its last issue of Off-
Track Toroughbred Magazine this past December. RRP had been pub- lishing the magazine since 2015 in partnership with the editorial team behind Te Horse: Your Guide to Equine Health Care (now a subsidiary of Equine Network). Te magazine helped make RRP a household name and was a go-to source for reliable information for off-track Torough- bred owners. RRP will, however, continue to partner with Te Horse to produce no-cost educational content, which it will publish more fre- quently on the newly overhauled Educational Library on RRP’s website.
Chesapeake Terapeutic Riding (CTR) recently held a ribbon-cut- ting ceremony to showcase its new environmentally-minded resource and outdoor education space. Te project was funded by the Chesapeake Bay Trust, in partnership with Chesapeake Environmental Management and Harford County Government. Te new space features: a pervious patio that helps filter rainwater on its way to the Chesapeake Bay; rain
barrels and a cistern to help capture and use rainwater in the farm’s op- erations; a new bio-retention area planted with native plants to filter the water on the farm. Te new space joins CTR’s existing pollinator meadow, a 2,700-square-
foot garden planted with more than 900 native Maryland pollinating plants. On December 12, 2023, the Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical
Center in Leesburg, VA, held a ribbon cutting for its new, multi-surface, diagnostics-equipped indoor arena. Te indoor arena houses an asphalt jogging lane plus an asphalt longeing area, a poured rubber jogging lane plus a poured rubber longeing area, and a spacious area with soft riding arena footing, all supporting the dynamic evaluation and diagnosis of lameness, as well as heart and respiratory issues. Te $6 million Jane and Stephen Hale Equine Performance Evaluation Center will provide a year- round, weatherproof area where horses can be evaluated under saddle, in hand, and on the lunge line on hard, medium and soft surfaces. Speakers at the ribbon cutting included Virginia First Lady Suzanne Youngkin.
From left: Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine Dean M. Daniel Givens, Mr. Joe T. May, Mr. Frank Batten, Mrs. Aimee Batten, VT Executive Vice President and Provost Dr. Cyril R. Clarke, First Lady of Virginia Suzanne Youngkin, Theodora Ayer Randolph Professor of Equine Surgery Dr. Jennifer Barrett, and Mrs. Karen Jones Squires.
A CLOSER LOOK AT GRAHAM EQUESTRIAN CENTER
adapted from a piece by Suzannah Kolbeck Tere is an equestrian gem hiding in plain sight just north of the
Baltimore Beltway. Te Graham Equestrian Center (GEC) comprises over 100 acres originally deeded to Baltimore City by Dr. Albert Gra- ham with a stipulation that recreation and horses remain part of the land. Baltimore City operated the land as a park for a few years, with softball diamonds and picnic areas. Te Maryland Department of Natu- ral Resources (DNR) later acquired the property and annexed it to the adjoining Gunpowder Falls State Park. In keeping with the original deed, GEC now operates a 22-stall barn, two lighted riding arenas, and a round pen. In 2021, the General Assembly approved $100,000 in legisla- tive bond funds for GEC to build an indoor arena. As part of its charitable purpose, GEC hosts interns from City Neigh- bors High School in Baltimore as well as various troops of Boy Scouts
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join.mdhorsecouncil.org www.equiery.com | 800-244-9580 THE EQUIERY YOUR MARYLAND HORSE COUNCIL PUBLICATION | JANUARY 2024 | 43
Jane Seigler
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