The horse industry contributes $39 billion in direct economic impact to the United States economy and supports 1.4 million jobs on a full-time basis, according to a new study released recently by the American Horse Council. When indirect and induced spending are included, the
economic impact reaches $102 billion. Th e study also estimates the U.S. horse population has reached 9.2 million.

Titled The Economic Impact of the Horse Industry in the United States, the study was conducted by Deloitte Consulting, LLC over the past year. It was commissioned by the American Horse Council Foundation with major support from the American Quarter Horse Association, The Jockey Club, the National T oroughbred Racing Association and Breeders’ Cup Ltd., the Keeneland Association, the American Paint Horse Association, the American Association of Equine Practitioners, the U.S. Trotting Association, the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association and the U.S. Equestrian Federation. It is the most comprehensive research document ever compiled on the American horse industry.
In conducting the study, Deloitte contacted 400,000 horse owners and other participants involved in all segments of the industry, including the recreational and commercial spheres.

Detailed Maryland Numbers

In order to be “break-out,” a state had to provide its own funding. The Maryland Horse Council, the Maryland Horse Industry Board and the Maryland Horse Breeders Association all contributed to the study.

Interestingly, the study confirmed many of the numbers established by the Maryland Cooperative Extension Service, the Maryland Department of Agriculture and the United States Department of Agriculture. Some numbers were in excess of previous estimates.

Some highlights from the Maryland break-out study:

Estimated number of horses in Maryland:
153,000
This number is higher than the 2002 USDA/MDA census, which indicated a population in the low 80,000s. Income from the Feed Fund confirms the lower number;
if there are 153,000 horses, they aren’t eating much!

Estimated number of horses by activity
Recreation: 47,300
Showing: 29,000
Racing: 41,800
Other: 34,000

Estimated number of horses by breed
Quarter Horse: 22,600
Th oroughbred: 69,200
Other horses: 61,100