The horse industry, or equine industry, is the economic activity associated with

horse The horse (''Equus ferus caballus'') is a domesticated, one-toed, hoofed mammal. It belongs to the taxonomic family Equidae and is one of two extant subspecies of ''Equus ferus''. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million y ...

s. This includes core

agribusiness Agribusiness is the industry, enterprises, and the field of study of value chains in agriculture and in the bio-economy, in which case it is also called bio-business or bio-enterprise. The primary goal of agribusiness is to maximize profit w ...

activities related to the use, possession or ownership of horses, as well as

leisure Leisure has often been defined as a quality of experience or as free time. Free time is time spent away from business, work, job hunting, domestic chores, and education, as well as necessary activities such as eating and sleeping. Leisure ...

activities and related economic activity that provides associated goods and services. Businesses directly or indirectly related to horses include equine nutrition,

equipment Equipment most commonly refers to a set of tools or other objects commonly used to achieve a particular objective. Different job Work or labor (or labour in British English) is intentional activity people perform to support the needs and ...

, publications, veterinary care, education, and sports clothing.https://www.okcareertech.org/educators/cimc/free-samples/ag-cluster/pdf-files/ag1student.pdf In the U.S., about 6 percent of

veterinarian A veterinarian (vet), also known as a veterinary surgeon or veterinary physician, is a medical professional who practices veterinary medicine. They manage a wide range of health conditions and injuries in non-human animals. Along with this, vet ...

s specialize in horse care, within the larger field of large animal veterinary care.

Economic impact

A 2009 survey conducted by American Horse Publications found that the horse industry had an economic impact of about 300 billion dollars, based upon a US horse population of four million animals, and it generated 1.6 million full-time jobs. Two previous studies were completed in 1996 and 2005. The 2005 study determined there were 9.2 million horses in the United States, a plurality of which were used for recreational purposes. That study identified a direct economic impact of $39 billion and combined direct and indirect spending having an economic impact of $102 billion, supporting 1.4 million full-time jobs. Texas, California and Florida had the most horses, but the study also found a horse population of at least 20,000 animals in each of 45 of the 50 states. Though other states have higher horse populations and more farms, the

Equine industry in Kentucky The equine industry in Kentucky is a major part of the state's agribusiness, including sectors involved in horse breeding and rearing, racing, buying and selling, and tourism. According to a study by the University of Kentucky, the equine industry ...

led the nation in 2009 for total sales and the highest market value of "equine products."

Law and lobbying

In the United States, some animals in the horse industry are protected by the

Horse Protection Act of 1970 The Horse Protection Act of 1970 (HPA); (codified ) is a United States federal law, under which the practice of soring is a crime punishable by both civil and criminal penalties, including fines and jail time. It is illegal to show a horse, ent ...

, which prohibits certain forms of animal abuse. U.S. state laws governing the industry are "uneven" with horses being sometimes treated as

livestock Livestock are the domesticated animals raised in an agricultural setting to provide labor and produce diversified products for consumption such as meat, eggs, milk, fur, leather, and wool. The term is sometimes used to refer solely to animals ...

, sometimes pets, with widely varying requirements. In many U.S. states, landowners are protected by statute from

liability lawsuit In law, liable means "responsible or answerable in law; legally obligated". Legal liability concerns both civil law and criminal law and can arise from various areas of law, such as contracts, torts, taxes, or fines given by government agenci ...

s resulting from injuries caused by horses and mules. Trade associations such as National Thoroughbred Racing Association and the

American Horse Council The American Horse Council (AHC) is a trade organization in Washington, DC representing the horse industry. The organization formed in the late 1960s, and received IRS 501(c) non-profit recognition in 1969, with a committee that became the Coali ...

lobby lawmakers for favorable outcomes for the industry.

References

{{Equine Agriculture in the United States Industries (economics)