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THE ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF ALBERTA’S EQUINE COMMUNITY
New research by the Alberta Equestrian Federation shows significant contribution of the horse industry to the Alberta economy.
BY KENDA LUBECK
It’s no surprise Albertans are passionate about their horses, donkeys, and mules. Our province’s heritage is rich with culture and traditions deeply rooted in life with these magnificent creatures.What might be surprising, however, is the impact equines have on the provincial economy in Alberta. With increased urbanization and less need for horses as a way to make a living, equine ownership could very well be classified as a luxury.
The Alberta Equestrian Federation (AEF) has sought for many years to better understand the Albertan equine community and its contribution to the province. In 2021 AEF hired an independent contractor, Serecon Inc., to conduct a study to determine the current status of Alberta’s equine community and estimate the economic benefits that it contributes to the provincial economy. “We wanted an objective view of the impact that equestrian activity and equine ownership has in our province,” says Jason Edworthy, President-Elect for AEF. “This would not only help us justify programming investments in equestrian sport, welfare, education, and recreation activities, but also set a benchmark to compare Alberta to other jurisdictions. It would also help us monitor growth, future trends and activity going forward.”
The diverse nature of the equine sector made it challenging to capture data.
PORTION OF SURVEYED EQUINES IN ALBERTA
Work Horses
Sport Horses Recreation Horses
AEF worked with key stakeholders in the equine community, using their knowledge and experiences to design a comprehensive survey. The survey was administered through multiple social media groups and electronic distribution tools in the fall of 2021, and garnered over 1,500 responses from a wide array of industry and community participants.
Findings indicate the diverse mix of equine activities had a total economic impact of over $1.3 billion in Alberta in terms of gross domestic product (GDP). That’s a significant financial contribution to the province. The equine industry and its communities are serious business in Alberta.
“We had an idea that the equine industry was a contributing factor to the total dollars, jobs, and household income generated in Alberta,” says Edworthy, “but this number was pleasantly higher than what we were expecting.”
When it comes to the matter of employment, again, the equine industry has a notable impact. The study shows in 2021 over 13,600 full time equivalent (FTE) jobs directly related to horse keeping (vet, farrier, stable management, etc.) were contributed. After accounting for jobs related to additional equine activities (riding lessons, summer camps, horse training, etc.), the total number of jobs contributed by the equine industry came in at over 20,300 FTEs, resulting in a contribution of $855 million in labour income.
So what is it about the equine industry and its communities that demands so much work? The study found Alberta is home to over 142,000 horses, donkeys, and mules. Expenditures on these animals account for vet, farrier, horse care products and services, feed, bedding, and outside maintenance labour – and that’s just for the basics.
Over 54 per cent of the horses, donkeys, and mules in Alberta are used for recreation such as trail riding,
Over 54 per cent of the horses surveyed in Alberta are used for recreation, nearly 40 per cent are used for sport, and roughly six per cent are used for work.
summer camps, and backyard animals. Those used for sport such as driving, dressage, vaulting, reining, and show jumping account for nearly 40 per cent of the animals, and roughly six per cent are put to work with jobs like outfitting, ranch work, and guiding.
For overall expenditures like board, feed, and health care, owners of equines used for sport shell out the most, paying approximately $12,700 per year to meet their animals’ needs. Owners of equines used for recreation pay nearly half that, at approximately $7,500, and owners of horses used for work see yearly expenditures around $3,700. By far the majority of these costs go to construction, repair, and maintenance of building and equipment for horses. Then feed, bedding, vet, and farrier expenses come into play. The costs associated with horse care products, travel, and tack were markedly higher for horses used for sport than recreation and work.
“Horses used for work incur lower expenditures because of the operating circumstances,” explains Edworthy. “Equines kept on farms or used on ranchlands or backcountry guiding typically sustain lower values for all expense categories due to the location and nature of farming and outfitting uses.”
Information from the study is available online to help others understand the importance of the impact the equine industry and its communities has on our province.
“With this kind of information we can continue to create opportunities for growth in our industry,” says Edworthy. “It’s no accident that Alberta is home to two of the world’s leading equestrianbased events – Spruce Meadows and the Calgary Stampede. We have a strong equestrian community; our heritage and culture was built on the backs of horses.”
For more information and to access the study, visit www.albertaequestrian.com.
$16,250.
$13,000.
$9,750.
$6,500.
$3,250.
YEARLY EXPEDITURES
Sport Horses Recreation Horses Work Horses
Overall expenditures for horses used for sport are nearly double that of horses used for recreation, and over three times that of horses used for work.
