Horse owners invited to participate in Texas equine study

Source: AgriLife Today
Texas horse owners are invited to participate in a study of the Texas equine industry.
“The purpose of this study is to gather information about respondents’ horses and facilities, demographics, participation in the industry, horse-related expenditures and economic impacts,” said Dr. James Heird, executive professor and coordinator of the equine initiative at Texas A&M University in College Station. “Results of this study will be used by industry representatives, the Texas Department of Agriculture and other policy makers to respond to current needs of the state’s horse owners and related businesses.”
The study asks about horse ownership, participation in horse-related activities, boarding facilities, and horse-related expenditures. Owners of businesses that serve horse owners, such as feed stores, training facilities, farriers, and veterinarians, are also invited to participate in the survey.
The online survey can be accessed from the link: http://bit.ly/1R61UuH.
The survey will remain open through May 1. Survey participants must be at least 18 years old. The Texas Department of Agriculture along with industry professionals are sponsoring the study through the Texas A&M Equine Initiative to identify trends and issues in the Texas equine industry and to document the industry’s contribution to the state economy.
Studies by other researchers in 1998 and 2005 found that Texas was home to more horses than any other U.S. state and the horse industry was an important contributor to the state’s economy.
The current study will reflect changes within the industry and the statewide economy over the past 20 years.
Heird said a 2005 American Horse Council Foundation study found that Texas ranked No. 1 among U.S. states in the number of horses and that the Texas horse industry had a direct economic impact of $3 billion and an overall economic impact of $5.2 billion.
A comprehensive economic impact study on Texas’ equine industry has not been done since 2005, prompting a new survey to collect the most recent information, according to survey organizers.