Md. Horse Foundation launches $1M capital campaign to establish Md. Horse Library & Education Center

The Maryland Horse Foundation announced the launch of a $1 million capital fundraising campaign to establish the Maryland Horse Library and Education Center in Reisterstown.

The money raised will be used to update 3,500 square feet of space in the historic building at 321 Main St., purchase furnishings, integrate current audio/visual technologies and support ongoing operational costs. Support has been robust to date, with $100,000 in commitments already confirmed.

The Maryland Horse Library and Education Center will honor the history of horses in Maryland and serve as a hub for learning and collaboration. The breadth and depth of the Maryland horse industry will be represented by a robust collection of reference books in a warm and welcoming venue available for public use.

While this facility will include an expansive collection of books and reference materials, it will be more than a library, as the unique space is intended to foster and promote education, community ties and passion to ensure the longevity of the Maryland horse industry.

In addition to the reference library, the Maryland Horse Library and Education Center will include a memorabilia area, versatile meeting space, interactive kiosks and rotating exhibits. Visitors will learn about Maryland’s champion horses and riders and engage with all facets of the state’s diverse equine industry, while educational programs will engage a wide audience of equine-inclined youth, the general public and lifelong industry participants.

While paying tribute to and preserving the history of Maryland’s horse industry, the Maryland Horse Library and Education Center will also serve as a center for visitors to document history by providing technology to record oral stories, scan photos and digitize historic footage.

The Maryland Horse Foundation was chartered in 1988 by the Maryland Horse Breeders Association to serve various educational and charitable needs of the Maryland horse industry. The Maryland Horse Foundation supports a number of programs and is responsible for the development and maintenance of the Maryland Horse Library and Education Center.

Since 1929, the Maryland Horse Breeders Association has been the leading horse industry advocate within the state of Maryland. The main purposes of the MHBA have always been to encourage, educate, promote, protect and improve the horse breeding industry in Maryland. While emphasis traditionally has been placed on the production of Thoroughbred racehorses, the MHBA encourages all interests that include horses.