Industry Urged to Complete Important Survey

The American Horse Council’s (AHC) National Economic Impact Study is the most comprehensive and widely used study showcasing the industry’s contributions to GDP, employment, equine population and acreage. It is broken down by sectors including recreation, racing, competitions, and working horses.

The last economic impact study in 2018 was a critical asset to drive interest in the equine industry, educate legislators and enhance media relations. The study helped identify the Florida industry as a megaplayer in the local (Ocala, Marion County), state and national economies.

The 2018 survey confirmed our industry’s leadership with significant contributions such as the most populous U.S. horse state by square mile and the largest single-county equine population in the United States (Marion County). Thanks to new venues such as the World Equestrian Center (a $1 billion equine development in Ocala) and everincreasing economic incentives, the equine, and especially the Thoroughbred industry, has flourished since 2018. The survey renewal is critical to substantiate this growth.

This time, there are several states that have commissioned breakout reports including California, Florida, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, and Texas. Community level surveys include Marion County, FL and Long Island, NY.

To put the importance of the survey into perspective, recent legislation providing over $55 million to the Thoroughbred industry hinged on the quantified economic impacts of our industry and the jobs it provides. Seeing this, Florida state legislators ensured incentives would power growth of Thoroughbreds in Florida.

To sustain such support it is more important than ever that every industry member from supplier, to horse owner, to horse show participant be counted in 2023.

All participants completing the survey will be eligible to win one of 15 incentive prizes valued from $180 to $7,500 plus all receive a 15% discount on purchases at horseandriderbooks.com.

The survey is available for horse owners and for suppliers at https://horsecouncil.org/economicimpact-study/. TFH