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Horse Industry Statistics

NATIONAL ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE U.S. HORSE INDUSTRY

The horse industry is a very large and important part of our national, state and local economies.  It is diverse, involving agriculture, business, sport, gaming, entertainment and recreation.

The economic study done by Deloitte Consulting LLP  for the American Horse Council Foundation in 2005 validates what the industry has known  for some time, that the horse industry is a highly-diverse, national, serious and economically significant industry that deserves the attention of the general public, the media and federal, state and local officials.

Highlights of the study include:

·      There are 9.2 million horses in the United States .

·      4.6 million Americans are involved in the industry as horse owners, service providers, employees and volunteers.  Tens of millions more participate as spectators.

·      2 million people own horses.

·      The horse industry has a direct economic effect on the U.S. of $39 billion annually.

·     The industry has a $102 billion impact on the U.S. economy when the multiplier effect of spending by industry suppliers and employees is taken into account.  Including off-site spending of spectators would result in an even higher figure.

·      The industry directly provides 460,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs.

·           ·    Spending by suppliers and employees generates additional jobs for a total employment  impact of 1.4 million FTE  jobs.

·      The horse industry pays $1.9 billion in taxes to all levels of government.

·     Approximately 34% of horse owners have a household income of less than $50,000 and 28% have an annual income of over $100,000.  46% of horse owners have an income of between $25,000 to $75,000.

·      Over 70% of horse owners live in communities of 50,000 or less.

·      There are horses in every state.  Forty-five states have at least 20,000 horses each.

Numbers of Horses

The study concludes that there are 9.2 million horses in the U.S. , including horses used for racing, showing, competition, sport, breeding, recreation and work.  This includes horses used both commercially and for pleasure. 

Specifically, the number of horses by activity is:

Racing                           844,531

Showing                      2,718,954

Recreation                   3,906,923

Other                           1,752,439

Total                            9,222,847

 

"Other" activities include farm and ranch work, rodeo, carriage horses, polo, police work, informal competitions, etc.

Pa        Participation

4.6 million people are involved in the horse industry in some way, either as owners, employees, service providers or volunteers.  This includes 2 million horse owners, of which 238,000 are involved in breeding, 481,000 in competing, 1.1 million involved in other activities, 119,000 service providers and 702,000 employees, full- and part-time and 2 million family members and volunteers.  That means that 1 out of every 63 Americans is involved with horses.

The Si    The Size and Impact of the Industry

G           Gross Domestic Product

The study documents the economic impact of the industry in terms of jobs and contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The study's results show that the industry directly produces goods and services of $38.8 billion and has a total impact of $101.5 billion on U.S. GDP. 

It is strong in each activity with racing, showing and recreation each contributing between $10.5 and $12 billion to the total value of goods and services produced by the industry.

Specifically, the GDP effect for each (in billions of dollars) is:    

                         Direct             Total

Racing             $10.6              $26.1

Showing             10.8              28.7

Recreation          11.8               31.9

Other                   5.5               14.6

Total                  $38.8         $101.58

Employment

The industry employs 701,946 people directly.  Some are part-time employees and some are seasonal so this equates to 453,612 full-time equivalent jobs.

The industry supports a total of over 1.4 million FTE jobs across the U.S. as follows:

                         Direct             Total

Racing           146,625          383,826

Showing         99,051           380,416

Recreation     128,324          435,082

Other               79,612           212,010

Total                453,612       1,411,333

Taxes

The industry pays a total of $1.9 billion in taxes to federal, state and local governments as follows (in millions of dollars):

Federal           $588

State               $1,017

Local               $275

T          The Diversity of the Industry

The results of the study show that the horse business is a highly diverse industry that supports a wide variety of activities in all regions of the country.  It combines the primarily rural activities of breeding, training, maintaining and riding horses with the more urban activities of operating racetracks, off-track betting parlors, horse shows and public sales.

Income Levels

The study dispels the misperception that the horse industry is an activity only for wealthy individuals.  In fact, the horse industry is a diverse activity with stakeholders including recreational and show horse riders, and moderate-income track, show and stable employees and volunteers.

Approximately 34% of horse owners have a household income of less than $50,000 and 28% have an annual income of over $100,000.  46% of horse owners have an income of between $25,000 to $75,000.

Community Size 

Over 70% of horse owners live in communities of 50,000 or less.

THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE HORSE INDUSTRY IN VARIOUS STATES:

CALIFORNIA

·         The California horse industry produces goods and services valued at $4.1 billion.

·             ·          The national industry has a $7 billion impact on the California economy when the multiplier effect of spending by industry suppliers employees is taken into account.  Accounting for off-site spending of spectators would result in an even higher figure.

·         311,100 Californians are involved in the industry as horse owners, service providers, employees, and   volunteers.  Even more participate as spectators.

·       The California horse industry directly provides 54,200 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs.  Spending by suppliers and employees (in California and other states) generates additional jobs in California for a total employment impact of 130,200.

·       There are 698,000 horses in California , over 70 percent of which are involved in showing and recreation.

COLORADO

·         The Colorado horse industry produces goods and services valued at $956 million.

·         The national industry has a $1.6 billion impact on the Colorado economy when the multiplier effect of spending by industry suppliers and employees is taken into account.  Accounting for off-site spending of spectators would result in an even higher figure.

·         102,400 Coloradans are involved in the industry as horse owners, service providers, employees, and volunteers.  Even more participate as spectators.

·         The Colorado horse industry directly provides 5,800 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs.  Spending by suppliers and employees (in Colorado and other states) generates additional jobs in Colorado for a total employment impact of 21,300.

·         There are 256,000 horses in Colorado , over 70 percent of which are involved in showing and recreation.

FLORIDA

·      The Florida horse industry produces goods and services valued at $3.0 billion

·      The national industry has a $5.1 billion impact on the Florida economy when the multiplier effect of spending by  industry suppliers and employees is taken into account.  Accounting for off-site spending of spectators would result in an even higher figure.

·       440,000 Floridians are involved in the industry as horse owners, service providers, employees, and volunteers.  Even more participate as spectators.

·       The Florida horse industry directly provides 38,300 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs.  Spending by suppliers and employees (in Florida and other states) generates additional jobs in Florida for a total employment impact of 104,700.

·      There are 500,000 horses in Florida , over 60 percent of which are involved in showing and recreation.

INDIANA

·      The Indiana horse industry produces goods and services valued at $779 million.

·      The national industry has a $1.3 billion impact on the Indiana economy when the multiplier effect of spending by industry suppliers and employees is taken into account.  Accounting for off-site spending of spectators would result in an even higher figure.

·       90,000 Indianans are involved in the industry as horse owners, service providers, employees, and volunteers.  Even more participate as spectators.

·       The Indiana horse industry directly provides 8,400 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs.  Spending by suppliers and employees (in Indiana and other states) generates additional jobs in Indiana for a total employment impact of 22,500.

·       There are 203,000 horses in Indiana , over 80 percent of which are involved in showing and recreation.  

KENTUCKY

·      The Kentucky horse industry produces goods and services valued at $2.3 billion.

·      The national industry has a $3.5 billion impact on the Kentucky economy when the multiplier effect of spending by industry suppliers and employees is taken into account.  Accounting for off-site spending of spectators would result in an even higher figure.

·      194,300 Kentuckians are involved in the industry as horse owners, service providers, employees, and volunteers.  Even more participate as spectators.

·       The Kentucky horse industry directly provides 51,900 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs.  Spending by suppliers and employees (in Kentucky and other states) generates additional jobs in Kentucky for a total employment impact of 96,000.

·       There are 320,200 horses in Kentucky , over 50 percent of which are involved in showing and recreation.

LOUISIANA

·       The Louisiana horse industry produces goods and services valued at $1.6 billion.

  •     The national industry has a $2.4 billion impact on the Louisiana economy when the multiplier effect of spending  by industry suppliers and employees is taken into account.  Accounting for off-site spending of spectators would result in an even higher figure.

        ·    54,200 Louisianans are involved in the industry as horse owners, service providers, employees, and volunteers.              Even more participate  as spectators.

·       The Louisiana horse industry directly provides 5,500 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs.  Spending by suppliers and employees (in Louisiana and other states) generates additional jobs in Louisiana for a total employment impact of 24,300.

·      There are 164,000 horses in Louisiana , over 70 percent of which are involved in showing and recreation.

MARYLAND

·      The Maryland horse industry produces goods and services valued at $1 billion.

·       The national industry has a $1.6 billion impact on the Maryland economy when the multiplier effect of spending by industry suppliers and employees is taken into account.  Accounting for off-site spending of spectators would result in an even higher figure.

·       65,600 Marylanders are involved in the industry as horse owners, service providers, employees, and volunteers.  Even more participate as spectators.

  •  The Maryland horse industry directly provides 10,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs.  Spending by suppliers and   employees (in Maryland and other states) generates additional jobs in Maryland for a total employment impact of 28,000.

·     There are 153,000 horses in Maryland , over 40 percent of which are involved in showing and recreation.

MISSOURI

·     The Missouri horse industry produces goods and services valued at $718 million.

·      The national industry has a $1.3 billion impact on the Missouri economy when the multiplier effect of spending by industry suppliers and employees is taken into account.  Accounting for off-site spending of spectators would result in an even higher figure.

·      125,100 Missourians are involved in the industry as horse owners, service providers, employees, and volunteers.  Even more participate as spectators.

·       The Missouri horse industry directly provides 42,200 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs.  Spending by suppliers and employees (in Missouri and other states) generates additional jobs in Missouri for a total employment impact of 56,000.

·       There are 281,000 horses in Missouri, over 70 percent of which are involved in showing and recreation.

NEW JERSEY

·       The New Jersey horse industry produces goods and services valued at $710 million.

·       The national industry has a $1.1 billion impact on the New Jersey economy when the multiplier effect of spending by industry suppliers and employees is taken into account.  Accounting for off-site spending of spectators would result in an even higher figure.

·        55,900 New Jerseyans are involved in the industry as horse owners, service providers, employees, and volunteers.  Even more participate as spectators.

·       The New Jersey horse industry directly provides 9,600 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs.  Spending by suppliers and employees (in New Jersey and other states) generates additional jobs in New Jersey for a total employment impact of 21,400.

·       There are 83,000 horses in New Jersey, over 80 percent of which are involved in showing and recreation.

NEW MEXICO

·      The New Mexico horse industry produces goods and services valued at $503 million.

·       The national industry has a $759 million impact on the New Mexico economy when the multiplier effect of spending by industry suppliers and employees is taken into account.  Accounting for off-site spending of spectators would result in an even higher figure.

·      91,100 New Mexicans are involved in the industry as horse owners, service providers, employees, and volunteers.  Even more participate as spectators.

·      The New Mexico horse industry directly provides 35,700 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs.  Spending by suppliers and employees (in New Mexico and other states) generates additional jobs in New Mexico for a total employment impact of 45,000.

·      There are 147,000 horses in New Mexico, over 60 percent of which are involved in showing and recreation.

NEW YORK

·      The New York horse industry produces goods and services valued at $1.4 billion.

·      The national industry has a $2.4 billion impact on the New York economy when the multiplier effect of spending by industry suppliers and employees is taken into account.  Accounting for off-site spending of spectators would result in an even higher figure.

·      152,000 New Yorkers are involved in the industry as horse owners, service providers, employees, and volunteers.  Even more participate as spectators.

·       The New York horse industry directly provides 12,700 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs.  Spending by suppliers and employees (in New York and other states) generates additional jobs in New York for a total employment impact of 35,200.

·       There are 202,000 horses in New York, over 70 percent of which are involved in showing and recreation.

OKLAHOMA

·       The Oklahoma horse industry produces goods and services valued at $766 million.

·       The national industry has a $1.2 billion impact on the Oklahoma economy when the multiplier effect of spending by industry suppliers and employees is taken into account.  Accounting for off-site spending of spectators would result in an even higher figure.

·       117,900 Oklahomans are involved in the industry as horse owners, service providers, employees, and volunteers.  Even more participate as spectators.

·       The Oklahoma horse industry directly provides 12,400 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs.  Spending by suppliers and employees (in Oklahoma and other states) generates additional jobs in Oklahoma for a total employment impact of 31,600.

·       There are 326,000 horses in Oklahoma, over 70 percent of which are involved in showing and recreation.

TEXAS

·       The Texas horse industry produces goods and services valued at $3.0 billion.

·       The national industry has a $5.2 billion impact on the Texas economy when the multiplier effect of spending by industry suppliers and employees is taken into account.  Accounting for off-site spending of spectators would result in an even higher figure.

·       455,600 Texans are involved in the industry as horse owners, service providers, employees, and volunteers.  Even more participate as spectators.

·       The Texas horse industry directly provides 32,200 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs.  Spending by suppliers and employees (in Texas and other states) generates additional jobs in Texas for a total employment impact of 96,300.

·       There are 979,000 horses in Texas, over 60 percent of which are involved in showing and recreation.

WYOMING

·       The Wyoming horse industry produces goods and services valued at $191 million.

·       The national industry has a $286 million impact on the Wyoming economy when the multiplier effect of spending by industry suppliers and employees is taken into account.  Accounting for off-site spending of spectators would result in an even higher figure.

·       33,100 Wyomingites are involved in the industry as horse owners, service providers, employees, and volunteers.  Even more participate as spectators

·       The Wyoming horse industry directly provides 1,400 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs.  Spending by suppliers and employees (in Wyoming and other states) generates additional jobs in Wyoming for a total employment impact of 4,900.

·      There are 99,000 horses in Wyoming, over 60 percent of which are involved in showing and recreation.

 

 

The American Horse Council Foundation

1616 H Street 

7th Floor

Washington DC, 20006 

202-296-4031

202-296-1970-fax

 

 

202.296.4031 ahc@horsecouncil.org