Resources: Fact Sheets

National Economic Study of Horse Industry Released December 1996

Highlights Include:

The horse industry directly produces goods and services valued at $25.3 billion.

The industry has a $112.1 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 by spectators would result in an even higher figure.

1.9 million people own horses.

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

The industry directly provides 338,500 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs (derived from 619,400 employees, some part-time, some seasonal, as measured by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). Spending by suppliers and employees generates additional jobs, for a total employment impact of approximately 1.4 million FTE jobs.

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

There are 6.9 million horses in the United States.

Horse ownership is broad-based among income classes. 14% of horse-owning households have incomes under $25,000, 38% under $50,000, and 64% under $75,000.

The horse industry’s direct economic impact is over 8 times higher on rural areas than urban areas, and generates almost 6.5 times more jobs in rural areas than in urban areas.

The horse industry’s contribution to the U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is greater than:

• Motion picture services
• Railroad transportation
• Furniture and fixtures manufacturing
• Tobacco product manufacturing
• Slightly less than apparel & other textile products manufacturing

The horse industry directly employees more people than

• Railroads
• Radio and television broadcasting
• Petroleum and coal products manufacturing
• Tobacco products manufacturing

Study commissioned by the American Horse Council Foundation, conducted by Barents Group, the specialized economic and fiscal consulting unit of KPMG Peat Marwick.

Maine makes a significant contribution to these figures. Our products and services are increasingly competitive on a regional and national level, with a number of individuals achieving national and international recognition. The Maine Farm Bureau Horse Council is a state horse council affiliated with The American Horse Council.