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With so much attention being paid to the recent closure of Rosecroft Raceway in Fort Washington, Fort Washington resident David Turner asked Prince George's County's equine industry task force to also keep the needs of small horse farmers in mind when the group brings recommendations to county lawmakers next month.

From improving county horse trails to preserving enclaves of rural land inside the Beltway — such as the Broad Creek Historic District, where Turner lives — Turner said owners of small horse farms also need help to stay in business.

"We urge you to adopt the small horsemen," Turner said during a public forum Aug. 19 hosted by the Prince George's Equine Industry Task Force.

The County Council created the task force in April to consider how the county could better support its equine industry, which was worth more than $63 million as of the lone statewide equine census conducted in 2002. The Maryland Department of Agriculture is conducting a second equine census this year and plans to release the new numbers by January.

According to that study, Prince George's County had about 7,400 equines, which includes different types of horses, ponies and donkeys. It ranked fourth among counties statewide; Baltimore County topped the list with about 10,600 equines.

Task force Chairman K. Teya Moore of Bowie, an attorney appointed by outgoing Councilman Samuel Dean (D-Dist. 6) of Mitchellville to head the group, said they have been meeting throughout the summer and plan to present recommendations to the council in September. Other members include horse farm owners – including long-time equine industry advocates Dorothy Troutman of Upper Marlboro and Harry Ketts of Aquasco – environmental experts and county residents involved in agricultural and equine industries.

The task force's recommendations so far include improving the marketing of horse farms to help keep owners such as Turner profitable, expanding the definition of "agriculture" in the county code to include the equine industry and attracting more events and horse-related activities to the Prince George's Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, Moore said.

Although the task force is not involved in discussions regarding Rosecroft's future, several forum attendees testified about how the track's closure as of July 1 will force them to take their horses — and dollars — to other counties or states.

Speaking after the meeting, Moore said he is hoping to lobby the Maryland Horse Industry Board and Maryland Stadium Authority to consider Prince George's County as the location for the proposed Maryland Horse Park, which would be a hub for the equine industry statewide.

Since April, the task force has also led to new partnerships between the equine industry and the rest of the county's agricultural community.

Janna Howley, the county's agricultural marketing specialist and a co-chair of the county's Agricultural Preservation Work Group, said horse farm owners have not always joined with other farmers in marketing the county's products and advocating on behalf of agricultural issues.

She testified during the public forum Aug. 19 that the task force has helped her connect with horse farm owners and that she hopes to include equine-related activities and services in future marketing campaigns.

Prince George's County Farm Bureau President Yates Clagett — head of the Soil Conservation District office and the other co-chair of the Agricultural Preservation Work Group — testified during the forum that keeping the equine industry profitable has a ripple effect throughout the rest of the agricultural community, citing local hay growers who supply horse farms as an example.

"You're keeping farms profitable," he said.