The American Horse Council Foundation (AHCF) today announced the launch of its next National Economic Impact Study of the U.S. horse industry, with findings expected to be released in 2028. This comprehensive study will build on AHCF's long‑running series of benchmark reports, which have documented the industry's contributions to jobs, economic growth and tax revenues for more than three decades.
This national study reports on the size and scope of the U.S. equine industry. It is designed to capture every horse, from the backyard 4‑H pony and lesson barn string to elite show circuits and Kentucky Derby breeding farms, along with the full range of businesses that support them. By contrast, the United States Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service Census of Agriculture counts only horses kept on operations that meet the federal definition of a "farm,” excluding most boarding, training and riding facilities and other nonfarm settings. It therefore omits a large share of the nation's horses and their economic impact.
Since the first national economic impact study in the 1990s, the AHCF has periodically updated its data to provide policymakers, industry leaders and the public with an authoritative picture of the horse industry's footprint. The most recent study, released in 2023, found that the U.S. equine industry added 177 billion dollars in total value to the economy and supported 2.2 million jobs, underscoring its role as a robust "horse‑powered” economic engine across rural and urban communities alike.
"Our Economic Impact Study, with its extensive data, has long been considered the gold standard for understanding the size and scope of the U.S. horse industry,” said Julie Broadway, president of the American Horse Council and the AHC Foundation. "These numbers do more than count horses: They provide context that helps industry stakeholders, public officials and business leaders make informed decisions about investments, land use, infrastructure and policies that affect horses and the people who depend on them.”
The upcoming 2028 study will update national and state‑level data and is expected to further expand on emerging areas of interest identified in 2023, including employment by job type, numbers of stables and equine facilities and information on trade, tariffs and international horse movement. The study will draw on economic modeling to quantify the direct, indirect and induced impacts of horse ownership, competition, racing, recreation, traditional work, equine‑assisted services, rescues and related segments of the industry.
Work on the 2028 study will proceed in several phases, beginning with selection of a research partner in 2026, followed by fundraising, survey and model design, data collection and analysis. As with prior studies, AHCF will seek broad participation from horse owners, industry suppliers, racetracks, show organizers, service providers and other stakeholders to ensure robust, representative data.
Funding for the project will come from American Horse Council members, state horse councils, breed and discipline organizations, corporate sponsors and individual horse enthusiasts. In addition to the national report, the study is expected to support state‑ and sector‑specific breakout reports where local partners elect to underwrite more detailed analysis.
The final 2028 National Economic Impact Study will include a full technical report and an executive summary written in clear, non‑technical language for a broad audience. The report will feature maps, charts and tables that illustrate the scope of the industry and will be used to educate the public, the media and elected officials in Congress and state legislatures about the industry's economic size, impact and importance.
For more information about the upcoming 2028 National Economic Impact Study or opportunities to support the project, please contact: jbroadway@horsecouncil.org.
