The horse world is constantly evolving, and horse sports are perhaps facing more scrutiny than ever before. It’s important for equine veterinarians to keep a finger on the pulse of current discussions and trends. Here are some important statistics about the horse industry veterinarians should know.
AHC Report
The American Horse Council’s (AHC) 2023 Equine Economic Impact Survey revealed many important statistics about the equine industry. The total number of horses in the U.S. is estimated to be 6.7 million, down from 7.2 million in the previous 2017 AHC report. Since the previous study, which was based on 2016 data, breed registrations have increased by 7.6%, largely in Quarter Horses, Standardbreds, and Morgans. About 1.23% of Americans own horses, and 30% of horse owners have a household income of less than $75,000 a year. Texas is the state with the most horses (748,800), followed by California with 477,700 and Florida with 344,900. Ohio and Oklahoma are each home to about 250,000 horses, and Kentucky has 224,600.
FEI Equine Ethics and Wellbeing Commission Reports
In June 2022, the FEI established the Equine Ethics and Wellbeing Commission to address issues related to Social License to Operate (SLO). The commission completed two reports that year titled “Opinions of Equestrian Stakeholders on the use of Horses in Sport: Survey Results” and “Public Attitudes on the Use of Horses in Sport: Survey Report.”
The “Public Attitudes on the Use of Horses in Sport: Survey Report” queried more than 1,000 respondents from 14 countries. One question was “Do you think horses enjoy being used in sport?” About 33% of respondents in the U.S. said they think horses enjoy being used in sport (Always & Frequently), and about 67% of the respondents said they think they would mostly not enjoy being used in sport (Sometimes & Never). Concerningly, 65% of the worldwide respondents (69% of U.S. respondents) were worried about the use of horses in sport, while only 35% of the respondents had no concerns. Respondents were most concerned about endurance, followed by eventing and carriage driving. The respondents were the least concerned about dressage, though more than half of the respondents were still uneasy. Forty-seven percent of respondents believed horses will be involved in sport in the future, but only if changes are made to improve welfare. Eleven percent of respondents believed horse sports will no longer be acceptable in the future.
The “Opinions of Equestrian Stakeholders on the use of Horses in Sport: Survey Results” study queried almost 28,000 people involved in the horse world from 116 countries. Among the respondents, the majority believed horses frequently (46%) or sometimes (45%) enjoy being used in sports. Two-thirds of the respondents stated they consider their horse to be a partner or family member. Only 1% considered them livestock, and 1% considered them work animals. Ninety percent of respondents thought equine welfare could be best identified by horses’ mental health status, followed by health indicators (77%) and physical condition (63%). Nearly 80% of respondents believed welfare standards need to be improved for horses competing in sport. Eighty-seven percent of the veterinarian respondents had concerns about the welfare of horses used in sport, compared to 75% of all respondents. Of equestrian respondents from the U.S., 92% were concerned about horses in competition, with the top three concerns being: “The other 23 hours,” “tack and equipment,” and “training and riding practices.”
Final Thoughts
The equine practitioner is ultimately one of the most important voices for the horse. As veterinarians, we have the potential to make a great impact on the health and well-being of these animals, which is more important than ever as concerns mount about the future of horse sports.
Related Reading
- AAEP Health Coverage: Prevalence of Lameness in FEI Horses and Its Correlation to Performance
- The Business of Practice: Veterinary Sustainability and Social License
- Business Briefs: What Will Equine Practice Look Like in 2030?
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