Historic, Archive Document

Do not assume content reflects current
scientific knowledge, policies, or practices.

nited States

Reserve a ”
aSF284 fF
lueces VEL ih rl ell a
1998 a “i
0.

Com position of the U.S In 1996, the American Horse Council (AHC)
gat commissioned a study that concentrated on the

Eq uine Popu lation economic impact of the horse industry in the U.S.
While both the AHC and NAHMS studies provided

interesting and beneficial information, cautions should
be taken in comparing study results because of
differences in study designs which reflect their purposes.
The AHC survey sampled horse owners whether or not
horses were physically present, whereas the Equine °98
Study sampled operations with equids present regardless
of equid ownership.

The National Animal Health Monitoring System’s
(NAHMS) Equine 98 Study was designed to meet the
equine industry’s informational needs. This USDA
project was NAHMS’ first national study to examine
health and management of equids in the United States.

The National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS)
selected a statistically valid sample from their list and
area sampling frames so that data from NAHMS Equine
°98 Study participants could be expanded to reflect all
operations with equids in the 28 participating states.’

Equine °98 information described both the primary
function of operations with equids and the primary use
of the equids on those operations. The primary function
of more than one-half (54.7 percent) of operations with
equids was residential with equids maintained for
personal use (Figure 1). These operations accounted for
roughly one-third of the equids (35.9 percent). The
primary function of nearly one-third of operations (32.6
percent) was farming or ranching. Racetracks
accounted for 1.1 percent of the equids and less than 0.1
percent of the operations. Examples of the functions of

Data were collected on equine health and management
practices via personal interview from a representative
sample of equine operations in these states. These
operations represented about three-fourths of the equine
population and three-fourths of operations with equids in
the U.S. For this study, equid was defined as horses,
miniature horses, ponies, mules, donkeys, and burros.
Overall 2,904 operations with one or more equids
participated in the first Equine 98 Study’s tat
igure

spe NE ces NERS Ae ae Percent of Operations* (and Percent of All Equid on those

Moe qeauee ce eee ae Ny sta Operations) by Primary Function of the Operation, 1997
sampling methodology is available in NAHMS
Equine *98 tabular summary reports. Primary Function

‘ 4 5 if ; Boarding/Training EB Operations
Equine °98 provided estimates for all domestic Equids

Racetrack H

equids, including visitors and residents (those

animals expected to spend more time at the piace Magu

operation than at any other operation throughout Ranch/Farm
the year). Resident equids accounted for the Residence (Pers. Use)
majority (97.5 percent) of all equids on operations Other Baa2

other than racetracks. 0 20 iO
Percent
*With equids present on January 1, 1998.

! Alabama, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mahteng
Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
¢ The Economic Impact of the Horse Industry in the United States. The American Horse Council Foundation, Washington, DC. December 1996.

CATALOGING Prep

operations in the Other category were outfitters,
carriage horses, and school horses.

Equids were primarily used for pleasure on

two-thirds (66.8 percent) of operations (Figure 2).

Just over 15 percent of operations used equids
primarily for farm/ranch work. Most smaller

operations (80.0 percent of those operations with

one or two equids) maintained their animals
primarily for pleasure.

Overall, the Equine *98 Study showed that 44.9

percent of operations in these 28 states had only one = 25H?
or two equids. These small operations accounted for 0

14.5 percent of the total equids, while the 21.4
percent of operations with six or more animals
maintained 60.4 percent of the equids.

The largest percentage of horses on
operations other than racetracks were
Quarter Horses (39.5 percent, Figure

Figure 2
Percent of Operations by Primary Use of Equids*, 1997

Other

3.6%

Farm/Ranch
15.2%

Pleasure
66.8%

Racing
1.9%
Breeding
6.0%
Show/compete
6.5%

Percent Operations Where Pleasure Was Primary
Use of Equids* by Size of Operation, 1997

1-2 3-5 6-19 20 or more
Size of Operation (Number Equids)

#8810
* Present on January 1, 1998.

Figure 3
Percent of Horses* by Breed, 1997

3), followed by Thoroughbreds (10.2 Quarter Horse 39.5
percent) and Arabians (7.8 percent). Thoroughbred

ad higher percentages of horses that Quarter Horses by Region, 1997
were Quarter Horses, while the Other (not registered)
Northeast region had the lowest protien ie
percentage. Percentages for

. . A |

Thoroughbreds were also higher in the Aer Pat Al
Western (10.1 percent of horses) and Paint BS 24.
Southern (14.2 percent of horses) Oe

regions than the other regions. The
Central and Northeast horse
populations had higher percentages of
Draft breed horses (12.0 percent and
10.6 percent, respectively) than the
other regions. About 10 percent of
the horses in the Northeast, Western,
and Central regions were Arabians,
while the Southern region population was only 4.5
percent Arabian. Standardbreds were most common
among horses in the Northeast region (9.9 percent),
followed by the Central region (5.6 percent).

Nearly 90 percent of the equine population were horses,
over 5 percent were ponies, and fewer than 3.0 percent
‘each were miniature horses, mules, and donkeys or
‘burros.

Most equids were 18 months or older (89.7 percent of
hogses, 88.1 percent of miniature horses, and 92.1

Tennessee Walker

Standardbred

Shaded states =

participating states. #8762

*For operations other than racetracks that had horses present on January 1, 1998. Percent of
horses includes horse foals but excludes miniature horses.

percent of ponies). Just over 7 percent of resident
equids (not including racetracks) were 20 of more years
of age; ponies had the highest percentage in the 20
years or older age group with 15.2 percent.

For more information on the Equine ’98 Study, contact:
Centers for Epidemiology and Animal Health
USDA: APHIS:VS, attn. NAHMS
555 South Howes; Fort Collins, CO 80521
Telephone: (970) 490-8000
Internet: NAHMSinfo@usda. gov
World Wide Web: http://www.aphis.gov/vs/ceah/cahm
N285.898