EPICenter News

New EPIC Trail to Open

An extension of the Breezy Loop Trail is set to open later this year. Named the Little Bucklodge Branch Loop, Mark and Kim Kabbes have been very busy clearing debris and trees and smoothing out the paths. They will be marking the trails in the coming months. It is shaping up to be one of our best trails yet! Keep an eye on our website, Facebook page and future issues of this newsletter for more information on where it will be located and when it will officially open. We are working on setting dates for an EPIC trail ride to celebrate its opening, and we hope that you’ll join us!

Horses or Houses?

In the end we will conserve only what we love. We love only what we understand. We will understand only what we are taught.–Baba Dioum, Sengalese ecologist, Speech 1968

This year the Potomac Hunt Club is celebrating it’s 100^th anniversary. On March 14, it hosted a land preservation and stewardship forum to help educate members and friends on the great treasure that is the Agricultural Reserve and what we need to do to keep things green for future generations. EPIC was present along with Montgomery Countryside Alliance (MCA), Sugarloaf Citizens Association (SCA), Maryland Environmental Trust, Trail Riders of Today (TROT), Potomac Bridle and Hiking Trails Association (PBHTA) and others. EPIC’s own chairman, Mike Rubin, spoke to the crowd of close to 100.

Created in 1981 by the County Council to preserve agriculture, the Agricultural Reserve covers 93,000 acres. There are about 12,000 acres of open land that have been preserved through private conservation easements and the sale of development rights to private land trusts, Montgomery County and the State of Maryland. Roy Hanson, chairman of the Montgomery County Planning Board and the man behind the creation of the Agricultural Reserve in 1981, discussed how the cultural heritage that this region represents is important because it says something about what we value and defines who we are as a county and is our legacy. The population in the Ag Reserve has increased 100 percent since its establishment, and our goal is to reduce the number of rooftops that are added either by buying more land or by receiving more donations of easements. For more information on land conservation go to www.epicmontgomery.org.

Your Stories Needed!

Have you tried to build an indoor arena or horse barn recently only to encounter problems with zoning laws or building codes? If so, the Maryland Horse Council wants to hear from you. EPIC attended a meeting March 18 sponsored by MHC on its new “Save the Horse Farms” initiative. While this plan is state-based, MHC is looking for county coordinators to help gather information on specific problems land owners are having in running or creating their horse farms in order to help change legislation that, in many counties, is out of date. MHC also needs help researching specific county zoning laws. Any anecdotal experiences you’ve had that indicate there is a barrier to the survival of horse farms in Montgomery County would be of great interest, as this project is designed to help horse farms thrive in Montgomery County and other counties in Maryland. Once the research is complete, MHC will issue a report along with model county laws that can be applied anywhere. County citizens can then take this information to county councils for adoption. For more information and to fill out a questionnaire, click here.

Maryland Horse Census on the Way

Though you probably  just mailed back your National Census form, there’s another on the way. The 2010 Maryland Horse Census is mailing next week to more than 21,000 Maryland equid owners. The census is a count of all horses, ponies, mules, burros and donkeys located in Maryland, regardless of ownership or use.

Maryland’s horse industry is vital, and this survey is the only reliable measure of the size and economic impact of the industry for public and private decision-making processes. This census will show how the industry has changed in the eight years since the first one was completed. The results will reveal the scope and economic importance of the Maryland equine industry, including identifying the number of horses owned for recreational, show, racing and therapeutic purposes; the amount of land used for equine-related activities; and strategies for attracting and retaining more equine and equine-related business and jobs in the state. Most importantly, the census will give horse industry leaders as well as public and private decision makers the current, accurate data they need to promote the industry and make informed decisions.

All of the major sectors of the equine industry will be included in the census. The questionnaire will ask for numbers of equids by breed, use, location and type of operation, and expenses, sales and assets associated with equine operations. The Maryland Horse Industry Board assures owners that this census is not part of any licensing, testing or other regulatory activity and that all responses are confidential.

A final report will be made available to the public in January 2011. Anyone receiving a census may request a copy of the published report on the form.

If you have not received a census by May 1, call (800) 675-0295 to request one. EPIC strongly recommends that all horse owners complete one. For more information visit www.marylandhorseindustry.org/census.shtml.