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Economic impact of the horse industry

Quick facts

  • The total economic impact of the horse industry in the United States is $177 billion, creating 2.2 million jobs.
  • About one-third of United States households contain a horse enthusiast.
  • Minnesota ranks 19th among states with large horse populations.
  • In 2017, the horse industry contributed $1 billion and over 15,000 jobs to the Minnesota economy.

In 2023, the American Horse Council evaluated the economic impact of the horse industry in the United States. In 2017, they looked at the economic impact in individual states including Minnesota, which was made possible through support from the Minnesota Horse Council. This article summarizes the findings of the American Horse Council economic reports.

Horse populations

The United States is home to over 6.7 million horses. Of those horses, about 129,000 reside in Minnesota, which ranks nineteenth in the nation for the largest horse population. The leading states for horse populations are:

  • Texas: 748,800 horses
  • California: 477,400 horses
  • Florida: 334,900 horses

Numbers of horses in Minnesota

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Agriculture Statistics Service (NASS) released 2022 Census of Agriculture data that includes county-based horse numbers. The census includes horse farms that raise or sell at least $1,000 of horse-related products during the census year. Based on their data, Minnesota ranks twenty-sixth in the U.S. for horse population. Minnesota is home to 6,988 horse farms and 40,131 horses. Most (97 percent) horse farms in Minnesota have 1 to 24 horses on-site.

The top ten Minnesota counties for horse population:

  1. Wright (1,721 horses)
  2. Fillmore (1,685 horses)
  3. Washington (1,555 horses)
  4. Isanti (1,553 horses)
  5. Todd (1,545 horses)
  6. Otter Tail (1,372 horses)
  7. Stearns (1,367 horses)
  8. Scott (1,115 horses)
  9. Winona (1,050 horses)
  10. Hennepin (1,008 horses)

Populations by breed

The two most popular breeds in the U.S. and Minnesota are the Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred. Household surveys of about 6.5 million horses in the United States indicated about 2.1 million were Quarter Horses and 1.0 million were Thoroughbreds. 

Individual involvement

While 30.5 percent of U.S. households have a horse enthusiast, only 1.2 percent own a horse. The other 29.3 percent includes individuals who either participate in horse activities or attend horse events. In Minnesota, about 677,000 households have horse enthusiasts.

In 2017,  about 29,000 Minnesotans owned a horse. Many Minnesota horse owners took lessons (17 percent), managed barns (17 percent), and trained horses (15 percent). Up to 14,000 Minnesota residents volunteered their time towards horse-related activities.

Economic impacts

United States

The U.S. horse industry directly contributes $74 billion to the economy and provides about 1.3 million jobs. Direct contribution refers to economic activity within the horse industry, such as horse care or recreation. However, these direct economic activities also prompt additional economic activity outside the horse industry. As a result, the total economic impact of the horse industry in the U.S. is $177 billion and 2.2 million jobs.

Minnesota

The direct economic impact of the horse industry in Minnesota is $541 million with a creation of 15,113 jobs. However, the total economic impact of the horse industry in Minnesota is $1 billion with the creation of 21,039 jobs.

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For more information

The full reports for the horse industry’s economic impact in the U.S. and Minnesota may be purchased from the American Horse Council.

Authors: Hannah Lochner and Abby Schuft, Extension educator

Reviewed in 2024

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