American Horse Council Seeks Conference Partner

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

American Horse Council

Julie Broadway

Jbroadway@horsecouncil.org

http://horsecouncil.org

 

 

American Horse Council Seeks Conference Partner

 

In an age where costs for travel and everyday living continue to rise, it can make it more difficult for organizations to host in-person conferences and educational opportunities for their members and potential customers. Attendees are looking for bigger bangs for their bucks when it comes to traveling for events such as these. This is why collaboration helps to drive growth when groups come together.

 

It is in this light that the American Horse Council (AHC) is inviting equine and/or agriculture-related organizations that are seeking conference facilities in the Washington, D.C., area in 2024 (or 2025) to reach out and discuss possible collaborations. (Future collaborations beyond 2025 may be discussed at a later date.)

 

The AHC will be holding its 2024 Conference over the course of four days, starting June 9, in its return to Washington, D.C. The conference will be held at the Royal Sonesta Hotel, located at 2121P Street NW, near Capitol Hill.

 

The Royal Sonesta is a brand-new venue which opened to guests last month (August 2023), and thus has flexibility to accommodate multiple groups simultaneously.

 

“The Annual AHC Conference is a huge drawing card for equine industry leaders and stakeholders,” states AHC President Julie Broadway. “We thought it might be fun to partner with another group as a way to cross pollinate ideas, speakers and networking opportunities – which could also be cost advantageous for everyone. Organizers can share the cost, and attendees get two educational opportunities for the cost of one trip!”

 

Contact Julie Broadway at jbroadway@horsecouncil.org to discuss.

 

Equine Industry Survey Overload – What You Need to Know  

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Equine Industry Survey Overload – What You Need to Know  

In recent months, several surveys have been circulated regarding the U.S. horse industry.  The American Horse Council (AHC) wishes to clarify these to avoid confusion and misunderstanding of the data collection methodologies, audiences, and findings. While all the surveys collect and publish data regarding the U.S. horse industry, each survey has different target audiences and different definitions.

AHC Equine Economic Impact Survey
The most comprehensive survey comes from the National Economic Impact of the U.S. Horse Industry conducted by the AHC Foundation which surveys all horse owners and stakeholders in the industry. Typically, this study occurs every five years, and is currently underway through September 29, 2023. The data from this survey is completely anonymous. Conducting an economic impact study creates an awareness of and an interest in the equine industry, helps provide positive relationships, including congressional and media relations, identifies local partners and supporters and offers an opportunity to recognize those relationships, identifies the industry as a player in the local, state & national economy and allows the industry to advertise itself by first identifying its contributions. This survey differs from the USDA-sponsored National Agriculture Statistic Service census because of the limitations placed on the USDA census.

Specialty entities that are being collected through this survey include: carriage operators, equine-assisted therapy groups, equines in academia, racetracks and commissions, and more.

You can find the AHC Equine Economic Impact Survey here: https://horsecouncil.org/economic-impact-study/

USDA, National Animal Health Monitoring System
The USDA, National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) periodically conducts an Equine Needs Assessment Survey to identify key issues and information gaps related to herd health. Currently, NAHMS is doing is in the development stage of the next study and is surveying the equine industry to help shape the study’s objectives. This survey is currently active through October 1, 2023. The full survey will take pace in 2026.

USDA, National Agriculture Statistic Service
The USDA, National Agriculture Statistic Service (NASS) conducts an agriculture census every five years. This census counts only horses that are on working farms. This definition excludes boarding, training, and riding facilities; as well as any other operation that fails to generate a minimum of $1,000 in sales of equine products, defined as “breeding fees, stud fees, semen or other”.  This census misses the majority of the horse population in the United States as well as a majority of the impact horses have on their communities.

PetSource
The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) publishes a report on pets called “PetSource”. While horses are defined as “livestock”, the AVMA study does ask owners about all types of animals in their care and thus publishes the number of horses reported and health/veterinary care issues.

AAEP, Equine Network
The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) in conjunction with Equine Network publications EquiManagement, The Horse, EQUUS and Horse & Rider just completed a survey of horse owners relating to their experiences with veterinary services and care.

University of Kentucky
Most recently the University of Kentucky has announced an equine health survey for horse owners in the state of Kentucky.

While the number of surveys can seem like overload, it’s important that horse owners and horse-related business owners take the time to complete as many as they can, as each survey can have a positive impact on the equine industry. Having accurate numbers can help support legislation, fund local events and support horses and their owners in a variety of ways.

For more information on the AHC Equine Economic Impact Survey, contact AHC President Julie Broadway: jbroadway@horsecouncil.org.

 

AHC Announces New Emeritus Appointments

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Contact: Julie Broadway
American Horse Council

Phone: 202-296-4031
Email: jbroadway@horsecouncil.org

For Immediate Release

AHC Announces New Emeritus Appointments

At the American Horse Council’s most recent board meeting on August 17, 2023, the following former trustees were named as emeritus, joining existing emeriti ranks with Dr. Jerry Black and Dr. G. Marvin Beeman.

  • James L. “Jim” Gagliano – President/COO of The Jockey Club, Jim served on the AHC Board of Trustees for 10 years (2012-2022) including three years as Vice Chair, three years as Chair and one year as Past Chair. Gagliano also served on numerous committees, working groups and task forces during this tenure.
  • Tom Lenz – Dr. Lenz was the AAEP representative on the AHC Board of Trustees for 13 years (2009 – 2022), serving as Welfare committee Chair and United Horse Coalition Chair.
  • Alex Waldrop – Former CEO of National Thoroughbred Racing Association, Alex joined the AHC Board of Trustees in 2006 and served for 15 years, retiring in 2021. During his tenure, Waldrop served as Chair of the AHC Racing Committee, and as Board Treasurer for many years.
  • Glenn Blodgett (posthumously) – Dr. Blodgett joined the AHC Board of Trustees in 2015 as the American Quarter Horse Association representative. He served on the Health & Regulatory Committee, Equine Welfare Committee and Racing Committee. Sadly Dr. Blodget, passed on Nov 20, 2022.

“These distinguished individuals have made invaluable contributions to the success of the Council and the Equine Industry,” stated Dr. Rick Mitchell, current AHC Board Chair. “They brought great insights and were visionaries in expanding AHC’s footprint in Washington, D.C., and firmly establishing AHC as the industry’s unified voice on Capitol Hill. We are indebted to them for their many years of service and countless contributions.”

About the American Horse Council

As the national association representing all segments of the horse industry in Washington, D.C., the American Horse Council works daily to represent equine interests and opportunities.

American Horse Council’s Podcast Hits Milestones, Looks to Expand

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Contact: Julie Broadway
American Horse Council

Phone: 202-296-4031
Email: jbroadway@horsecouncil.org

For Immediate Release
August 25, 2023

American Horse Council’s Podcast Hits Milestones, Looks to Expand

 

There are more than 100 million active podcast listeners in the United States, according to Intuit. There are 38 million households in the United States that contain horse enthusiasts, according to the 2017 American Horse Council Equine Economic Impact Survey. The overlap of horse enthusiasts and podcast listeners hasn’t been measured, but there’s a good bet it’s a significant overlap.

 

To have a horse industry and horse welfare related podcast is a unique niche that has become the American Horse Council’s monthly podcast. The AHC podcast on Horses in the Morning debuted on May 2, with a new episode online the first Tuesday of every month. The podcast can be found on the Horses in the Morning website, Google and Spotify podcasts and your favorite podcast platform. Horses in the Morning is the flagship daily podcast that anchors the Horse Radio Network, an entity of the Equine Network.

“Having the AHC join us on Horses in the Morning has brought new conversations for horse owners that needed to be started,” says Glenn Hebert, Director of Podcasting and America’s Horse Husband on the Horse Radio Network. “This podcast is reaching new audiences and introducing them to another side of the industry, no matter the discipline they follow.”

Each episode is averaging thousands of downloads, so far, which shows that niche podcasts such as the AHC podcast have found a more focused market. The AHC is looking for podcast guests and sponsors for the episodes. Prospective guests should submit a summary of the proposed topic. Topics should not be focused on selling or promoting products. Instead, the topics must be original, relevant, nonpolitical and applicable to the equine industry. Sponsorships are available on a per-episode basis and include two to three commercials of no more than 30 seconds each spread throughout the episode.

The first four episodes are available online for listening at leisure.

  • Welcome to the Dude Ranch (May 2023) Dude ranches and their history with Russell True, author and owner of White Stallion Ranch in Tucson, Arizona.
  • Youth are the Future (June 2023) How organizations work with children and young adults to introduce the horse and encourage participation in the industry with Jennifer Sweet of the United States Pony Clubs and Annise Montplaisir of Amplify Horse Racing
  • Helping Horses in Need (July 2023) The unique work that the 2023 United Horse Coalition’s Unity Award winner, Days End Farm Rescue and Maryland Equine Transportation does for horses at-risk in Maryland and highlighting “Helping Horses in Need” published by Trafalgar Books, with Brittney Vallot of Days End, Dr. Stacie Boswell and Ashley Hankins of the UHC.
  • Environmentally Sustainable with Horses (August 2023) Two Colorado State University capstone students showcase their presentation from the AHC National Issues Forum on how horse manure can produce electricity to power homes, with Emily Stearns of the AHC.

Each show includes updates on what’s going on with legislation in individual states, as well as on the national front in Washington, D.C., as a way to inform and educate listeners.

“We have had a lot of fun doing the podcast so far,” says Julie Broadway, president of the AHC. “I truly believe we try to address important topics that are not only interesting but educational for horse owners and enthusiasts. I feel like we have a different niche for our podcast that has been accepted by everyone.”

“The American Horse Council episodes are all awesome, but the August (episode) was next level,” says listener Madison Tillman.

For more information on sponsoring the American Horse Council podcast, or to learn more about the AHC, email president Julie Broadway at jbroadway@horsecouncil.org.

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About the American Horse Council
As the national association representing all segments of the horse industry in Washington, D.C., the American Horse Council works daily to represent equine interests and opportunities.

Equine-Assisted Services and Equines in Academics Surveys Released by AHC 

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As the American Horse Council (AHC) continues to collect responses from the 2023 Equine Economic Impact Survey, two more of the more industry-specific surveys are being released to shine a spotlight on impacts horses make within their communities.

 

The equine-assisted services, known also as equine-assisted therapy or interventions, involves incorporating horses into therapeutic and developmental activities. These activities support individuals with various physical, emotional, cognitive or psychological challenges. These services are conducted by trained professionals such as therapists, counselors or educators, in collaboration with horses. It is a sector of the industry that has a large individual impact, while its cumulative economic impact has yet to be measured…until this year.

 

“Equine-assisted services is one of the fastest-growing sectors of the equine industry,” says Julie Broadway, president of the AHC. “It goes almost without saying that horses improve the body, mind and spirit of those they are around.

 

The Equine-Assisted Services survey will be distributed via the AHC through partner organizations like PATH Intl. EAGLA, Horses for Mental Health, Certified Horsemanship Association, American Hippotherapy Association, and many more. Plus, we will be sharing this on social media and through press releases to hopefully invite individual practitioners to contribute. Find the EAS survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/AHC_EAS_Survey

 

The impact of horses as part of the world of academia is mostly measured in terms of graduates with degrees in equine science on their path towards veterinary school. However, equines in academia have an impact on more industries outside of the veterinarian and professional trainer industry – including researchers, and other niche aspects of the industry. Horses have been a part of college programs for many years and are seeing an increase as part of high school and even grade school programs. Because of this growth, the AHC will be distributing economic impact surveys to schools of all levels with horses as part of their academia.

 

“We are so excited to learn about the leaders of tomorrow’s equine industry, and there’s no better way than to get statistics on the on the faculty and students in schools studying equine-related programs,” says Broadway. “We believe there are 200+ schools with equine-related programs, and we hope to quantify the impacts those schools and their students could make on the future of our industry.”

 

These surveys are being circulated by Equine Science Society, IHSA, NEAAA, and others. But feel free to contact AHC at info@horsecouncil.org if you’d like to receive the survey.

 

Responses for the general economic impact survey has climbed to over 13,000 since its launch in April. The 2023 Equine Economic Impact Survey is live until September 29, with more specific groups being reported than ever before. Also, for the first time, responders are automatically given a coupon for 15% off their purchase of any books, courtesy of Trafalgar Square Books, and they are eligible to win one of many prizes, including a year of free grain from Purina or Nutrena, a John Deere Z545R ZTrak Mower and online courses with Texas A&M University.

 

The Horse Owner Survey and Horse Industry Supplier Survey are both available on the AHC website, found here: https://horsecouncil.org/economic-impact-study/. To be included in mailings for the more specific surveys, email Julie Broadway: jbroadway@horsecouncil.org.

 

AHC Announces Updates and New Appointments to Board of Trustees 

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As the second half of 2023 begins to gain momentum, American Horse Council (AHC) President Julie Broadway announces the following updates to the AHC Board of Trustees:

 

  • At the recent AHC Annual Meeting, the Board of Trustees elected the following officers:
    • Dr Rick Mitchell, Chair; representing United States Equestrian Federation (USEF)
    • Marilyn Bertera, Vice Chair; representing United States Trotting Association
    • Matt Iuliano, Treasurer; representing The Jockey Club
    • Kristin Werner, Secretary; representing The Jockey Club
  • At the same event, the following standing committee chairs were approved:
    • Kathy Alm, of PATH International as chair of Equine Welfare
    • Katie Flynn, DVM, of USEF as chair of Health & Regulatory
    • Joe Wilson of TRA as chair of Racing Advisory
    • Randy Rasmussen of Back Country Horsemen’s Association as chair of Recreation/Trails/Land Use
    • Billy Smith, PhD, of National Reining Horse Association as chair of Shows/Competitions
  • Effective June 30, 2023, Keith Champlin, COO at National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) will join the AHC Board of Trustees filling the NTRA seat.

 

Prior to joining the NTRA 1999, Chamblin served as Vice President of Marketing at Hollywood Park Racetrack in Los Angeles, California, from 1988-1994. Chamblin also served in various capacities at Remington Park, the Oklahoma City racetrack that drew more than six million fans through its turnstiles during its first six years of operation.

 

Prior to serving with the NTRA and in racetrack administration, from 1985-1987 Chamblin was a member of the editorial staff of The Blood-Horse magazine in Lexington, Kentucky. From 1983-1985, he was managing editor of Spur Magazine, a bi-monthly horse racing publication based in Middleburg, Virginia. Chamblin is a 1983 graduate of Boston University.

 

“We look forward to Keith’s contributions on the AHC Board,” stated Dr. Mitchell. “He brings to the Board a wealth of experience and contacts within the Thoroughbred racing industry. His knowledge of the NTRA’s legislative activities and grassroots organizing will be invaluable.”

 

“The American Horse Council thrives on the variety of viewpoints and passions of our Board of Trustees and our committee chairs,” says Broadway. “With these new additions, we’re comfortable moving into the next few years of providing a voice for the horse and the industry in Washington.”

 

 

 

About the American Horse Council 

As the national association representing all segments of the horse industry in Washington, D.C., the American Horse Council works daily to represent equine interests and opportunities.

 

Vital Equine Industry Resource Now Available Online

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Vital Equine Industry Resource Now Available Online

 

The latest trend is to resurrect things that were once considered new. In light of that trend, two esteemed equine institutions are bringing back a vital piece of informative material to assist the equine industry.

The American Horse Council (AHC) and American Youth Horse Council (AYHC) have joined forces to recreate a directory of equine educational resources known as The Source Book.

Originally published in 1999, the AYHC’s Source Book included a list of brochures, CDs, publications and other educational material. Since then, technology has delivered a wider variety of resources that now includes online learning platforms, podcasts, e-publications and more. It was time to refresh and bring back The Source Book.

The updated list will include resources that are provided by equine associations, equine nonprofits, academic institutions and Cooperative Extension Services. The Source Book will be available as an online tool on both the AYHC and AHC websites.

“One of the missions of the American Horse Council to provide as many doors to opportunities as possible to all horse owners and enthusiasts,” says Julie Broadway, president of the AHC. “And, it is the mission of the AYHC to provide leadership and resources that will serve and promote the youth of the equine industry. Partnering on this Source Book is just a small part of what both groups can do to help enthusiasts, supporters and everyone in the industry.”

Submissions are free and are being accepted by all equine associations and nonprofit organizations until October 1, 2023. To be a part of this revolutionary resource list, complete the following form: https://forms.gle/S9918UmTdvom5fA26

 

The Scores are In: American Horse Council Congressional Scorecard for the First Half of 2023

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The Scores are In: American Horse Council Congressional Scorecard for the First Half of 2023 

Having support in Washington, D.C., is vital for any industry, but especially the horse industry. Wouldn’t it be easy if you had a simple way to see if your Congressional representative is one of those that supported your lifelong passion?

Enter the American Horse Council’s Congressional Scorecard. “It’s imperative that horse owners and those active within the industry are familiar with their political representatives—locally and in Congress,” says Julie Broadway, president of the AHC. “We hope that by providing a tool such as the Congressional Scorecard it makes it easier for our members to know who they can look into supporting when election time rolls around.”

The American Horse Council (AHC) regularly identifies legislation that supports the U.S. equine industry. Bills are evaluated that draw consensus among the AHC’s diverse membership in issue areas such as federal resources for equine-assisted services, animal welfare issues arising under the Horse Protection Act, labor flexibility, tax reform, public trails access, USDA resources to promote equine programs and others that may emerge as the legislative process moves forward. In addition to the legislation, points are awarded to members of the U.S. Congress who support AHC through their membership in the Congressional Horse Caucus, participate at AHC events and whether they are accessible and responsive to AHC members and staff.  

While reviewing the legislative record for the 118th Congress, which has reached the midpoint of its first session, the AHC analyzed pro-industry bills, which is also referred to as “priority legislation,” and identified the bills’ congressional champions. From this board list of “champions,” the AHC then assigned points based on a lawmaker’s degree of support for priority bills, among other factors. The point system then makes a smaller pool of “industry champions” emerge to inform members of the horse industry which incumbents should be recognized and acknowledged for their support.

The following are the top ranking five members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives:

SENATE  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
1. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-West Virginia) 1. Rep. Don Bacon (R-Nebraska-2)
2. Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kansas) 2. Rep. Andy Barr (R-Kentucky-6)
3. Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) 3. Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-California-19)
4. Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi) 4. Rep. Dan Meuser (R-Pennsylvania-9)
5. Sen. John Brasso (R-Wyoming) 5. Rep. Angie Craig (D-Minnesota-2)

Those interested in viewing the Congressional Scorecard can visit the AHC website and look under “Election Center” (https://horsecouncil.org/election-center/congressional-scorecard/).

Because the AHC is bipartisan, party affiliation is not a factor in the scorecard. “The scorecard reflects those that support bills that help the equine industry, no matter what party they represent,” says Broadway.

Some of the bills from the first half of the 118th Congress include:

  • H.R. 1582 – Personal Health Investment Today Act of 2023 (PHIT Act of 2023)
    Sponsor: Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA-16)
  • H.R. 3090 – Prevent All Soring Tactics Act of 2023 (PAST Act of 2023)
    Sponsor: Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-1)
  • H.R. 1839 – Combating Illicit Xylazine Act
    Sponsor: Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-CA-19)
  • H.R. 2927 – Racehorse Tax Parity Act
    Sponsor: Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY-6)
  • H.R. 2296 – Racehorse Cost Recovery Act of 2023
    Sponsor: Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY-6)
  • H.R. 1250 – Family Farm and Small Business Exemption Act
    Sponsor: Rep. Tracey Mann (R-KS-1)
  • H.R. 237 – Recognizing the Importance of Stepped-Up Basis under Section 1014 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 in preserving family-owned farms and small businesses
    Sponsor: Rep. Tracey Man (R-KS-1)
  • S. 1108 – Death Tax Repeal Act of 2023
    Sponsor: Sen. John Thune (R-SD)
  • S. 786 – Personal Health Investment Today Act of 2023 (PHIT Act of 2023)
    Sponsor: Sen. John Thune (R-SD)
  • S. 993 – Combating Illicit Xylazine Act
    Sponsor: Sen. Catherine Cortez Mastro (D-NV)
  • S. America’s Outdoor Recreation Act of 2023 (serves as an omnibus for related bills, additional co-sponsors will be added)
    Sponsor: Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV)

For more information, or to see the top ten, visit the AHC website: https://horsecouncil.org/election-center/congressional-scorecard/ 

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About the American Horse Council
As the national association representing all segments of the horse industry in Washington, D.C., the American Horse Council works daily to represent equine interests and opportunities.

Webinar: Understanding the Farm Bill & The “Right to Repair” Bill 

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Webinar: Understanding the Farm Bill & The “Right to Repair” Bill  

 

With so many versions and stressed points of a legislative bill, it can be easy to get lost and not understand how it can impact you and your livelihood. The American Horse Council (AHC) understands this, which is why it is hosting a free webinar on July 17, 2023, at 1:00 PM EDT to help horse owners and business owners understand two important bills that will have a large influence on the industry.

 

The Farm Bill covers everything from farmer support to community food access and was last signed into law in 2018. Up for its five-year renewal, the House and Senate Committees on Agriculture are hard at work holding hearings, reviewing budget and program submissions, and honing their math skills as the spending requests approach the $1 trillion mark. This will provide a “behind the scenes” look into the Farm Bill and learn how it can affect you, your horses and your business.

 

Have you ever had to do your own repairs on your tractor just to drag your arena? At best doing your own repairs might void the warranty, at worst you may be breaking the law! The “Right to Repair” (or “Fair Repair”) legislation protects you as a consumer. This is a legal right for owners of devices and equipment to freely modify and repair products such as automobiles, electronics and farm equipment.  What current “Right to Repair” protections exist, and what direction is the future of “Right to Repair” going?

 

Panel will include:

  • Justina Graff – Senior Legislative Assistant at the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture. Justina is the Senior Legislative Assistant to Representative G.T. Thompson (R-PA) and has worked alongside him since February 2023. Prior to that, she has lobbied on behalf of the coalition to promote U.S. agricultural exports, the National Milk Producers Federation and the Organic Produce Association.
  • Emily Buckman – Director, Government Affairs for the American Farm Bureau Federation. Emily joined AFBF after serving two years as the Director of National Affairs for the Kentucky Farm Bureau. She previously worked on Capitol Hill for nearly a decade for Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY02) as a Senior Policy Advisor and served as a policy advisor at the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Rural Development and the Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services mission areas. While in these roles, she worked to advance policy and legislation on issues including agriculture, education, infrastructure, and workforce development.

“The American Horse Council’s goal has always been to keep the equine industry apprised of the latest legislation that might affect horse enthusiasts, owners and businesspersons,” says Julie Broadway, president of the AHC. “These two laws can be very confusing, yet very important for all constituents to understand, which is why we wanted to host this webinar.”

 

To register for the webinar, send an email to info@horsecouncil.org by July 15th.

 

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About the American Horse Council 

As the national association representing all segments of the horse industry in Washington, D.C., the American Horse Council works daily to represent equine interests and opportunities.

 

Responses Pour In for 2023 Equine Economic Impact Survey

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Responses Pour In for 2023 Equine Economic Impact Survey

Just as the heat of summer is starting to increase, so are the numbers for responses during the 2023 American Horse Council Equine Economic Impact Survey. The survey launched in April and runs through September 29, and so far, more than 5,000 responses have been received.

Leading the way in state responses should be no surprise, with Texas, New York and California having the most (in that order), followed by Maryland and Ohio. The states with the least responses, so far, include Hawaii, Alaska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Nevada.

“We’re really hoping to get a good variety of answers from all 50 states, plus Washington, D.C.,” says Julie Broadway, president of the AHC. “This is going to be the biggest study the AHC has launched in more than 50 years, with different aspects of the industry covered, so we want to get the word out to everyone.”

The economic impact study is an anonymous survey that will examine the effect the horse industry has on the economy. The survey measures changes in business revenue, business profits, personal wages, and/or jobs. As a large, economically diverse industry, the United States horse industry contributes significantly to the American economy.

The purpose of the study is to demonstrate the value of the equine industry in the national and state economies by analyzing the direct, indirect, and induced economic impacts of horse ownership, recreation, and equine-related services. Broadway stressed to attendees of the 2023 AHC National Issues Forum that the United States Department of Agriculture’s Farm Census is not an accurate picture of the horse industry, thus handicapping the amount of support the industry is eligible to receive to the government. Having more accurate numbers, such as you can find in the AHC Equine Economic Impact Survey will help push for a unique sponsored Horse Census where “Every Horse Counts.”

The first two surveys are for owners of horses, ponies, donkeys, drafts, etc., as well as owners of businesses who supply the horse industry. The latest survey is the Competition Organizer Survey, which will be sent out to groups that host all types of equine-related competitions. Other surveys and data collection will include equine-assisted services facilities, racetracks, the Native American population, the Amish and Mennonite population, equine-related academia, veterinarian, mounted police, etc.

Members of the American Quarter Horse Association lead in terms of responses for the survey with 53% of the responses being Quarter Horses. The American Paint Horse Association makes up 22.5% of the responses and the United States Trotting Association rounds out the top three with 17.8% of the responses, so far.

Data collected will inform public and private investments in equine-related businesses, equine health care, education, land use decisions, tax policy, tourism, employment incentives, etc.

 

New this year are sponsored incentives for individuals and groups who participate in the survey, including a John Deere Z545R ZTrak Mower valued at $7,500, one year of Nutrena feed for one horse (a $2,000 value); one year of Purina feed for one horse (a $500 value/horse); gift certificates from Trafalgar Square Books (total value $180); free enrollment in Texas A&M AgriLife Equine Reproductive Management Online Course valued at $300/enrollment; plus more.

“The Economic Impact Study is the most effective tool in our advocacy quiver,” says Julie Broadway, president of the AHC. “When the industry needs to take aim at an issue, this data is invaluable in helping us paint the picture of the contributions the industry makes and the breath & depth of its composition.”

The 2023 Economic Impact Study can be found on the AHC website: https://horsecouncil.org/economic-impact-study/

If you have questions, contact American Horse Council President Julie Broadway at jbroadway@horsecouncil.org

 

 

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About the American Horse Council
As the national association representing all segments of the horse industry in Washington, D.C., the American Horse Council works daily to represent equine interests and opportunities.