University of KentuckyCollege of Agriculture

Kentucky Equine Survey

2012 Kentucky Equine Survey
Phase 1 Results: Inventory, assets, sales and income, expenditures

Summary

Phase 1 of the Kentucky Equine Survey was conducted by the Kentucky Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), with support and assistance by the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture and the Kentucky Horse Council.  Funding for the project was provided by the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund, along with the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, the Kentucky Horse Council, and numerous other industry organizations and individuals. The objective of Phase 1 of the Kentucky Equine Survey is to obtain an estimate of the inventory of all breeds of equine (horses, ponies, donkeys, and mules) as well as an estimate of equine-related assets, sales and income, and expenditures.  A sample of 15,000 equine operations, stratified by operation size and geographic location, received questionnaires, and data were collected June – October 2012 covering the period January 1 – December 31, 2011.

It is estimated that there are 242,400 horses in Kentucky, residing on 35,000 equine operations.  The total value of Kentucky’s equine and equine-related assets was $23.4 billion. The total of all sales and income for equine operations in 2011 was about $1.1 billion, and total equine-related expenditures by equine operations in 2011 were about $1.2 billion.  Details are included in this document.

NASS is currently working on the county-level estimates and will be released upon completion.  Results from Phase 2 of the Kentucky Equine Survey, the economic impact analysis, will be available in mid-2013.

Inventory

It is estimated that there are 35,000 equine operations in Kentucky, with 1.1 million acres devoted for equine use.  The breakdown of equine operations by primary business type, number of acres for equine use, and percent of equine-related activities on the operation for business purposes is as follows:

Primary Business Type

Number

% of equine-related activities for business purposes

Farm or Ranch

19,500

10%

Personal Use

10,500

6%

Boarding, Training, or Riding Facility

1,100

56%

Breeding Operation

700

73%

Other

3,200

8%

On these 35,000 operations, there are an estimated 242,400 horses, ponies, mules, and donkeys.  These equine can be categorized as follows:

Category

Inventory

Light Horse

216,300

Draft Horse

5,100

Ponies

7,000

Donkeys and Mules

14,000

Total

242,400

Thoroughbreds are the most prevalent breed in the state, followed by Quarter Horses.  The seven most prevalent breeds are identified in the table below:

Breed

Inventory

Thoroughbred

54,000

Quarter Horse

42,000

Tennessee Walking Horse

36,000

Saddlebred

14,000

Donkeys, Mules, & Burros

14,000

Mountain Horse Breeds

 

12,500

Standardbred

9,500

The primary use of Kentucky’s equine is trail or pleasure riding.  A complete list of inventory by primary use is as follows:

Primary Use

Inventory

Trail Riding/Pleasure

79,500

Broodmares

38,000

Idle/Not Working

33,000

Competition/Show

24,500

Yearlings, Weanlings, and Foals

23,000

Racing

 

15,000

Work/Transportation

 

12,500

Breeding Stallions

 

3,900

Other

13,000

The estimated value of the 242,400 equine in Kentucky is about $6.3 billion.  In addition, the estimated value of equine-related assets (including land and buildings, vehicles and equipment, feed and supplies, and tack and equestrian clothing) is $17.1 billion.  Hence, the total value of Kentucky’s equine and equine-related assets is $23.4 billion.

Sales and Income

Sales of all equine in 2011 were estimated to be $521.1 million.  Income from services provided in 2011, including both breeding and non-breeding services (such as training, lessons, boarding, farrier, transportation, purses, incentives, etc.), totaled $491.0 million. Thus, the total of all sales and income for equine operations in 2011 was about $1.1 billion.

Expenditures

Capital expenditures by equine operations in 2011, including purchase of equine, real estate purchases and improvements, and equipment purchases, were estimated to be $337.0 million. Operating expenditures (which include expenses paid for boarding fees, feed, bedding, veterinary fees, supplies, farrier services, breeding fees, maintenance and repair, insurance premiums, utilities and fuel, taxes, rent and/or lease, fees and payments, shipping and travel, training, and other fees) totaled $839.0 million.  Moreover, 77% of these operating expenses were spent in Kentucky.  Total equine-related expenditures by equine operations in 2011 were about $1.2 billion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

   
   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

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