EnivroHorse Information Paper: National and California
Economic Statistics

Horse Keeping Economics -Apr 1998

National Facts

The United States has 6.9 million horses used commercially (3.9 m) or for recreation
(3 m), owned by 1.9 million people. The recent Barents study from the American Horse Council (AHC data) dispels the misperception that the horse industry is an activity only for wealthy individuals. In fact, the horse industry is a diverse broad-based activity. The median income for all US households is $36,000. For horse owners the following statistics apply (these numbers are cumulative):
Income %
<$25,000 14
<$50,000 38
<$75,000 64

While the US Department of Agriculture keeps extensive data on commercial livestock operations, it keeps little data on horses. The Council for Agricultural and Science Technology (CAST) estimates livestock volume in units as follows:
Cows 104 million
Swine 60 million
Sheep 8 million
Poultry 7790 billion
TOTAL 8,962 billion units
The mere 6.9 million horses are apparently of little concern. There is very little federal data available on horse keeping relative to other livestock.

State Facts

The California horse industry is highly diverse, supporting a wide variety of activities in all regions of the state. It combines the primarily rural activities of breeding, and horse training with the more urban activities of operating racetracks, off-track betting, and horse shows. The following points from American Horse Council highlight the importance of the California horse industry:

o The California horse industry produces goods and services valued at $3.4 billion.

o The national industry has a $11.4 billion impact on the California 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.

o 720,500 Californians are involved in the industry as horse owners, service providers, employees, and volunteers. Even more participate as spectators.

o The California horse industry directly provides 36,00 (FTE) jobs. Spending by suppliers and employees generates addition jobs in California for a total employment impact of 124,400 (FTE) jobs.

o California is the home of five racetracks with long seasons (Bay Meadows being one), one with medium season, nine fairgrounds with short seasons, and other fairgrounds with off-track betting facilities.

o Two of the 40 national horse shows of 1996 were held in California (one being the Cow Palace).

o There are 642,000 horses in California, over 70% of which are involved in showing and recreation (449,400).

Very few statistics are available in the State of California on horses and horse keeping. According to Deanne Meyers, Livestock Management Specialist at UC Davis (February 1997), it is difficult to find data on horses because it is seldom that >50 horses are kept in a single facility. You must have a sufficient mass of animals for study, before data can be considered representative.