The Maryland Horsepark
Maryland Horse Industry Forum August 6, 2009
Download the Speech by Governor O'Malley given at the Maryland Horse Industry Forum:
Click Here
A letter by PHPA President Alison Asti about the developement of the Navy Dairy Farm facility:
Published 03/28/09
Equestrian activities
The Navy Dairy Farm Plan should be revised to include horseback riding. Equestrian
activities are a healthy lifetime sport, provide a valuable economic engine for the
county and should not be overlooked.
In 2006, the county submitted to the state its 119-page plan outlining its goals for
future recreation facilities, land conservation and farm preservation. County
officials involved citizen advisory panels and held public meetings to gather input
for this long-range planning document. The report lists "trails" as a top priority.
Another top priority is to "acquire approximately 2,850 acres of land" with the
single largest parcel being "approximately 300 to 500 acres for a new west county
regional park." The dairy farm meets this objective nicely. Most importantly, the
report includes this important directive:
"Avoid introduction of uses incompatible with equestrian use."
Unfortunately, due to the efforts of some committee members who were active in the
effort to oppose the horse park, the proposal for the dairy farm park does just
that.
The members of the Anne Arundel County horse community that voiced their support for
the state horse park at the former Naval Academy Dairy Farm represent 2,320 horse
owners, 1,330 places at which horses are housed and 8,900 acres of pasture used
solely for horses in Anne Arundel County.
The construction of modest riding facilities and trails at the former Naval Academy
Dairy Farm would create a true partnership with the entire community and achieve
many of the goals outlined in the recreation plan adopted by the state in 2007.
Horses have lived on that farm for many years, even when it was a dairy. There is no
reason to shut them - and the equestrian community - out.
ALISON L. ASTI
President, Pasadena Horse and Pony Association