The Maryland Horse Industry Board (MHIB) is an agency which is part of the
Maryland Department of Agriculture
The Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) is a state agency of Maryland. Its headquarters are in the Parole census-designated place in unincorporated Anne Arundel County, near Annapolis.Department of Licensing and Regulation in 1970. The Board transferred to the Department of Agriculture in 1980. In October 1998 the duties and name of the MHIB were altered. The change resulted from a statutory change lobbied for by the Maryland Horse Council, a member organization of the
American Horse Council
The American Horse Council (AHC) is a trade organization in Washington, DC representing the horse industry. The organization formed in the late 1960s, and received IRS 501(c) non-profit recognition in 1969, with a committee that became the Coali ...
. The duties of the MHIB expanded beyond stable licensing to include:
- promoting the use and development of horses in Maryland;
- support research related to equine health and related issues;
- creating public awareness of the value of equine activities as they relate to the green space preservation;
- developing and disseminating information concerning the equine industry; and
- advising the Department of Agriculture regarding matters affecting the horse industry in the State.
There are 12 members of the MHIB, including the Secretary of the Maryland Department of Agriculture, appointed by the
Governor
A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...
. Those members serve four year terms and represent specific sectors or organizations of the horse industry. Those sectors or organizations include:
- Trade and Support Businesses;
- Officers of County Humane Societies;
- Trails and Recreational Riding;
- Organized Competitions and Shows;
- Thoroughbreds;
- Standardbreds;
- Academic Equine Community;
- Licensed Veterinarians;
- Maryland Horse Council;
- Licensed Stable Operators; and
- The General Public.
The Chairman of the MHIB is elected annually by the Board. Since 1998 the chairmen of the MHIB have included:
- Gregory Gingery (1998-2004)
- James B. Steele (2004–present)
The MHIB employs a staff at its discretion. The Executive Director position is currently staffed by Ross Peddicord; it was previously staffed from 2003 - 2010 by J. Robert "Rob" Burk, the Stable Inspectors are Pegeen Morgan and Keziah "Kezie" Richard and the part-time Administrative Assistant is Tonya Jones.
The MHIB has overseen several high-profile projects for the horse industry in Maryland including the Maryland Equine Census, the Maryland Horse Park project, the Mid-Atlantic International Import and Export Equine Center, and the Maryland Horse Forum. Additionally, in order to fulfill its entire mission since 1999 the MHIB has awarded grants to non-profit and not-for-profit projects benefiting the Maryland horse industry. In 2003, it awarded a $5,000 grant to the Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center, part of the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine.
Horse Industry
The horse industry, or equine industry, is the economic activity associated with horses. This includes core agribusiness activities related to the use, possession or ownership of horses, as well as leisure activities and related economic activity ...