Why are we fundraising?

About Us

The Maryland Equestrian Club (MEC) is an organization that strives to bring together fellow equestrians through a common love for horses. We are unique in the way that we provide on-campus riding opportunities to students at a more affordable cost than they would find elsewhere. Our members are hard workers, as we as a team take several hours out of our busy schedules to take care of all the horses at the campus farm on a daily basis. Some experienced members are even trainers! MEC is a great way for Animal Science students to gain experience with large animals, and we offer lessons to riders of all skill levels. This is why it is crucial that our horses are safe to ride— many of our members are new to working with them, and we want this club to give them the best experience possible.

The Dilemma

The COVID-19 pandemic hit the world hard, and unfortunately MEC could not avoid its impact. Our herd numbers dwindled due to a lack of students on campus available to ride or do chores. Sadly in these past few years, we have also had to let go of many of our beloved horses as they moved onto their well-deserved retirement. Thus, it has been hard to recover our herd, so we are looking to raise money to welcome a new member into our barn. However, it is difficult to find an affordable horse that can meet the skillset and safety requirements for our riders. Our goal is to raise the funds we need to purchase a horse that will be a great fit for our program!

Our Goal

With these funds, we would be able to purchase a more skillful riding horse. This would benefit our members who ride and complete chores, and would take some of the workload off of our other horses. Financial assistance would be extremely beneficial, as we have many skilled riders who deserve to be challenged and grow with an appropriately-skilled horse. We would greatly appreciate any support to our cause, since finding safe, affordable horses is extremely challenging in the present market.

Launch 2021-2022

We are incredibly grateful for last year's donors, as they allowed us to welcome Rocket (left) and Quinn (right) to our herd. You can make a difference!

Thank you

Even if you can't make a donation right now, we appreciate you taking the time to look through our page. Other ways to make an impact could involve sharing this campaign by posting on social media under the hashtag #MECRidingHorseFundraiser, checking out our Instagram account @marylandequestrianclub, or telling your friends and family!

Gifts in support of the University of Maryland are accepted and managed by the University of Maryland College Park Foundation, Inc., an affiliated 501(c)(3) organization authorized by the Board of Regents. Contributions to the University of Maryland are tax deductible as allowed by law. Please see your tax advisor for details.