Help Shape the Future of Equestrian Activities in Montgomery County!

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SEPTEMBER 7, 2010, BOYDS, MD — You have an opportunity to speak up for and help shape the future of equestrian activities in Montgomery County, Maryland!

Montgomery Parks, M-NCPPC and the Montgomery County Department of Recreation are currently participating in a process to develop a vision and strategic plan for park and recreation services in Montgomery County. The project is being coordinated across both departments by GreenPlay, LLC and will take up to 18 months to complete.

Montgomery Parks, M-NCPPC and the Montgomery County Recreation Department are hosting two public meetings this month.

They’re seeking feedback from the public on which types of activities and programs they should be offering, which should recover all costs through user fees and which services should be primarily covered by your tax dollars. Your input will help guide the long-term planning for our county’s parks and recreation services, facilities and programs.

Public Meeting #5
Monday September 13, from 7:00 PM- 8:30 PM
Gwendolyn Coffield Community Center
2450 Lyttonsville Rd., Silver Spring, MD 20910
Public Meeting #6
Tuesday September 14, from 7:00- 8:30 PM
UpCounty Regional Services Center
Meeting Room A
12900 Middlebrook Road, Germantown, Maryland 20874

Past meeting information and links have been posted on the project calendar. Focus Group meeting notes are also available for you to review here.

Please plan to attend a meeting and make your voice heard. If YOU don’t speak up for the future of equestrian activities in our county, YOU risk losing them!

September 7, 2010 by admin · Leave a Comment

Fairfax County Requests Proposals for Riding Program

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September 4, 2010—Fairfax County, Virginia, is soliciting sealed proposals to establish a contract or contracts through competitive negotiation for Horseback Riding Classes and Camps for the Fairfax County Park Authority and other Fairfax County departments. The contract will begin on the date of award and terminate March 31, 2015. All proposals are due on or before September 20, 2010.

To download a copy of the Request for Proposal, click here.

September 4, 2010 by admin · Leave a Comment

Naomi Manders to be Honored at MHC 4th Annual BBQ

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EPIC board member Naomi Manders will be presented with the Anne & Gilbert Pumphrey Memorial Award in recognition of and grateful appreciation for her dedication to the equestrian trails of Montgomery County & Maryland at the Maryland Horse Council’s 4th Annual BBQ Picnic, September 18, 2010, in Fair Hill, Maryland.

In honor of MHC’s 25th anniversary, TROT will be sponsoring an informal, horseback tour of the 5,633 acres sold to the state by the DuPont family. The tour will include a visit to the cattle operation, the steeplechase course, the covered bridge and the remaining vestiges of the fox pen including the foxhound kennels. Louisa Emerick, a local who has spent many hours riding driving and walking these grounds since the early 1960′s will lead the trail ride and share many anecdotes about the grounds and its history.

Ride to begin at 11 a.m. and ends at approximately 2 p.m.
Helmet and negative coggins required.
(trail ride is free and open to non-members)
Please contact Ron MacNab for the start location and directions to the ride: (301) 622-4157 or rmacnab@comcast.net

BBQ is from 4 to 8 p.m. (registration required)
Location: Fair Hill Equine Therapy Center, 720 Training Center Drive, Elkton Maryland 21921
To register online visit www.mdhorsecouncil.org by September 10.

For more information or to print the event flyer, click here.

September 3, 2010 by admin · Leave a Comment

“We want horses rather than houses, combines instead of cul-de-sacs.”

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“We want horses rather than houses, combines instead of cul-de-sacs.” – County Councilman George Leventhal. State provides $5 million to jump start Building Lot Termination program.

County leaders tout new farm preservation program: http://www.gazette.net/stories/08192009/montnew191642_32526.shtml

September 2, 2009 by jGregory · Comments Off

Thanks to All Our Supporters!

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SUPPORTERS

Adrian Ford
Anne Davies
Anonymous
Barbara Shaw
Barry and Lorraine Rogstad
BB&T
Becker and Greaney Family Fund
Brian and Christina Weaver
Bryan and Susan Brewer
Bushwood Racing Partners
Capitol Polo
Christine Sizemore
Christine Uzzell
Claire Buchanan
David and Maria Tobin
Diane Berinstein
Donna Tasso-Johnson
Elizabeth Kenten
Fran Ligler
Francine D’Antuono
George Sengstack
Green Cup
Green Lightning LLC
Ira and Linda Pastan
Jacquelyn and William Sheehan
Jane Thery
Janelle Straszheim
Jennifer and Steven Nagel
Jennifer Krieg
Jill Engel-Cox
Jim and Maureen O’Connell
John Louth
John and Jennifer Pleasants
Jonathan Bulman
Karen Kraushaar
Karen Montgomery
Karen Widmayer
Kerrington Hill McCoy Trust
Laura Van Etten
Lauren Pollin
Lee Babcock
Lila McConnell, MD
Liza Durant
Lori Larson
Lynn D. Wilson
Margaret Scypinski
Sabine Coreneliuines
Margery Edmunson
Martha and Kevin Klasing
Marvin and Sylvia Rubin Private Family
Maureen Bigelow
Michael Rubin
Mid-Atlantic Farm Credit
Naomi Manders
Pam DuBois and Eric Smart
Pamela Grant
Pamela Powers
Rebecca and Jim Byers
Rhea Knight
Roberta Frost
Robin S. Conrad
Ron MacNab
Sabine Cornelius
Stephanie Blanc
Sugarloaf Riding Club
Susan Buse
Thora Pollack
Tom and Joan Yolken
Tom Gutierrez
Tracey Donatelli
Callithea Farm
Canterbury Farm
Chasin Dreams Farm
Eminence Farm
Encanto Stables
Potomac Horse Center
Sugarland Ranch
Thistlecroft
Wyndham Oaks

August 18, 2009 by jGregory · Comments Off

Hay Herbicides Not a Risk to Horses

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TheHorse.com

“Recent reported crop losses in North Carolina and several other states are linked to certain broad leaf herbicides containing aminopyralid, clopyralid, and picloram, according to researchers. In North Carolina, people with gardens and organic farms who rely on horse manure or compost for fertilizer are noticing that some of their plants are dying.” Full story (story) >

July 14, 2009 by jGregory · Leave a Comment

CONSERVATION MATTERS: Montgomery Soil Conservation

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The newest publication by CONSERVATION MATTERS: a publication by Montgomery Soil Conservation is worthy of a read. You may download it here in a PDF file.

MSCD_2009_June_Newsletter

July 10, 2009 by jGregory · Comments Off

Montgomery County 2008 Equestrian & Stable Survey

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Final Report 04.01.09

Montgomery County has a rich agricultural history that is valued as a part of the county’s culture. Over the past several decades, agriculture in this area has shifted from primarily large farms to smaller farms. At the same time, the equestrian community has become a greater presence in the county and one that significantly contributes to its economic base. In 2004, Montgomery County revised the zoning ordinance to include equestrian facilities within the definition of agriculture. Doing so made it easier for equestrian businesses to operate in Montgomery County.

Since 1998, the county has reached out to the equestrian community to help them understand how best to utilize local resources available to them. The success of these efforts has been measurable, but the county’s ability to successfully bridge the gap between county agencies and the growing equestrian community has been limited. One purpose of this survey was to learn how county resources can be used to forge a partnership between horse enthusiasts and county agencies. One goal of this partnership was to implement sound agricultural principles in business and conservation throughout the county. This survey was sponsored by nine organizations, each with varied interests and goals for the survey. Collectively, these goals included a desire to gain a better understanding of the dynamics of the equestrian community, understand their needs and desire for information, evaluate the use of conservation practices, better understand how to expand existing education and outreach programs, and gauge the level of interest in agricultural land preservation programs in the county. Information gathered as a result of the survey was to be used to guide policy evaluation, improve education programs, allocate resources, and better understand our equestrian partners’ needs.

Survey results indicated that people enjoy riding for the following reasons: being outdoors, relaxation, exercise, being with horses, and spending time with friends and family. The survey confirmed that riding is a family sport that applies to all ages. Overall, pleasure trail riding was the most popular equestrian activity with dressage and eventing the top organized competitive activities. The challenge of fox chasing followed closely. These responses are consistent with the community’s desires for public facilities that support the continued growth of this form of recreation and enterprise. Survey respondents overwhelmingly supported the idea of making indoor arenas, cross country courses, and outdoor arenas available for public use, as well as increasing trail accessibility. They also would support charging a small fee for the use of such facilities within the county.

Survey results provided a wealth of useful information that will support planning and evaluation of resource allocation. It also identified new areas where further consideration may be warranted. As the county continues to reach out to horse farms, large and small, it will be interesting to learn how the county may be of assistance in helping landowners achieve maximum benefits from the use of such plans.

It was also learned that the minority of farms own or board the majority of horses. This creates two groups of clients with different needs: the few large operations with many horses, and the many smaller operations each with a small number of horses. Therefore it is important for county agencies to pursue programs specifically geared toward the needs of these two very different groups.

Horse farm owners indicated that they regularly mow their pastures, rotate the grazing of their horses, test the soil, routinely drag their fields, and often use temporary fencing for pasture management. The majority of horse farm owners temporarily store soiled bedding and pay to have it hauled away. While they support a county program to have manure picked up, they could not commit to paying a fee until they knew what that fee may be. This creates an opportunity for the county to investigate and potentially support a manure and soiled bedding recycling program.

The survey results confirm the assumption that there is a need for reaching out to the smaller home-based horse farm owner. Thirty -six percent of respondents indicated that they keep their horse at home, and these smaller horse farms appear to be increasing in popularity. For the next administration of the survey, it will be useful to target this demographic so that we can understand how to best include them in our partnership with the equestrian community.

In the mean time, the county will continue to reach out to horse farm owners and riders through continuing education efforts and building good will. The knowledge gained through the results of this survey will help the county tailor its programs and services to meet the diverse needs of this demographic. It also supports the suggestion that the county spend more time in the equestrian community we serve building relationships and sharing information with each other. The primary goal of building this partnership is to establish trustworthy communication between the partners, regular information exchanges that benefit all partners, and information sharing to achieve mutually beneficial goals. By doing so, government agencies and groups serving equestrians will be better informed and better able to serve this growing segment of the agricultural community.