2012 Kentucky Equine Survey

In 2012, the University of Kentucky and the Kentucky Horse Council partnered to fund and implement a statewide Kentucky Equine Survey. With significant funding from the Kentucky Agriculture Development Fund and matching funding from the industry as well as UK, the survey was implemented using the data collection services of USDA's National Ag Statistics Service.

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.

Phase II results are expected late in 1st quarter, 2013.

PHASE I RESULTS

Information summarized by Dr. Jill Stowe, UK Ag Economist

Summary: 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 found below.

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.