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Maryland's rich equestrian heritage evokes a variety of traditions Maryland gallops into full stride with a rich equestrian culture on display. The most visible tradition might be the Preakness Stakes, but horse enthusiasts can enjoy a wide variety of events and activities year-round. Maryland has now identified four major sites in the MARYLAND HORSE PARK SYSTEM. The four sites are: the Fair Hill Special Events Zone in Elkton, home of the MARS Maryland 5 Star[...]

Both English and Western horse shows, lesson barns, foxchasing, steeplechasing and Thoroughbred racing and breeding farms are part of the county’s horse allure. In December, horseback riders mix with farmers on their tractors in The Great Lisbon Farmers Feed the Hungry Christmas Parade, which raises money for local food banks. Howard County is steeped in horse history. It is the site of Doughoregan Manor, closed to the public, but famous for more than two centuries[...]

Riding stables across the Old Line State including our officially recognized Maryland Horse Discovery Centers are open to provide your family with the kind of fun you can only get up on the saddle and under the Maryland sky. Whether you’re an old hand expert or looking for your first equestrian experience, Maryland’s Horse Discovery Centers are waiting with just the adventure for you. And don’t forget a stop at a Maryland saddlery for that[...]

The early hotspots for colonial horse sports, including racing and foxchasing, were in Southern Maryland, Annapolis and the Eastern Shore areas of the state. But this began to change in the 1700s as settlers migrated north and west and the commercial scene shifted to Baltimore City. The first major Baltimore County horse farm was established in what is now Towson at Hampton Mansion, where Charles Carnan Ridgeley bred and raised Thoroughbreds in the late 1700s[...]

Of course, the Shore is also home to one of Maryland’s major tourist attractions—the Assateague Wild Horses at the Assateague Island National Seashore Park. There are also numerous trail riding stables where you can rent a horse and see nature up close and personal. Worthmore Enrichment Center 11570 Still Pond Rd, Worton Full service equestrian center offering lessons, boarding, summer camps, two therapeutic riding programs and various Horse Discovery Center activities. The farm is located[...]

Western Maryland It was through these areas that horse-drawn wagon trains headed west on the National Road and that horses carried George Washington and his soldiers during the French and Indian War. Horses, of course, were a big part of the Civil War and there is a proliferation of equestrian statues at the Antietam Battlefield in Sharpsburg (Washington County). The mule, and its role in moving goods on the C & O Canal from Washington[...]

The use of horses principally fell into two categories—their horsepower was needed for work, and for war; or for enjoyment in all types of sporting events, mostly racing. Horses pulled fire engines, and one named Goliath, a giant Percheron, was celebrated as the “hero” of the Great Baltimore Fire in 1904. Baltimore started its Mounted Police Unit in 1888, considered the oldest in the country. Arabbers, who are street vendors selling fruit and vegetables and[...]

There have also been large horse racing farms. Frederick was the home of Glade Valley Farm, once one of the state's leading Thoroughbred operations. as well as Yankeeland Farm, a major national Standardbred harness breeder. It was also home to the New Market Hounds that merged with the Middletown Hounds approximately 40 years ago. There are several 4-H and pony clubs. The Frederick Pony Club is one of the oldest in the state. The Great[...]

Cecil County In 1924, William duPont founded Fair Hill, a tract of nearly 6,000 acres near Elkton, which is now a state-owned natural resources management area and equestrian competition venue. About 20 miles further south, in the 1960s, Allaire duPont banded together with well-heeled friends and established a 10,000-acre enclave of individual horse breeding farms in Chesapeake City. It is the largest contiguous area of preserved farmland in Maryland. The county is comprised of gently[...]