Horses freely roam the beaches of Carolla, but back on North Carolina’s mainland they generate income and improve our quality of life. From training, breeding and riding to sales, shows and rodeos, “equinomics” plays a major role in our region’s financial success. Since 1997, the number of small horse farms, horse boarding farms and horse owners has increased in our area. This trend could rise over the next few years as the region’s urban population grows, according to the N.C. Cooperative Extension Service. New state legislation authorizing a $500,000 equine industry study reflects the growth. Billed as a major win for the N.C. Horse Council, the SB187 Equine Industry Study Funds asks the N.C. Rural Economic Development Center to conduct a state census that tallies numbers and breeds of horses, the number of equine owners, the number of equine operations, total acreage devoted to the industry, the value of equines in the state, and the value of equine-related assets.

Glenn Jernigan of Glenn Jernigan & Associates Governmental Affairs Consultants recently wrote on the N.C. Horse Council’s website that “this study will eventually lead to the utilization of a dynamic growth of the equine industry in North Carolina that will rival Kentucky and Tennessee!” The N.C. Horse Council estimates there are more than 250,000 horse owners in the state and North Carolina’s equine industry has an economic impact of more than $1 billion. This impact results from ownership or purchase of horses, agriculture products (feed grain, hay veterinary services and farm equipment), farm laborers, farriers, grooms, breeders, trainers, insurance providers, tack stores and equestrian clothing retailers. Add equine assisted learning to the list, too. This form of experiential learning emphasizes the improvement of non-verbal communication skills through interaction with horses. Horse farms also play a key role in preserving the region’s farmland. The inclusion of conservation easements in deeds prevents buyers from developing the land. Some developers are cautiously treading the line between preservation and profit. Communities such as Pleasant Green Farms just north of Hillsborough and Hickory Downs in Chatham County represent a cross between a neighborhood and horse farm by blending large home sites with shared acreage that accommodates riding trails, rings and community stables. These gated communities represent yet another way the equine industry impacts the local economy. Nationally, the industry’s economic impact speaks volumes. The National Horse Council estimates there are 7.1 million horse owners in the United States who contribute more than $100 billion to the U.S. Gross Domestic Product, and 1 in every 35 Americans is involved in the equine industry. Learn more about how the equine industry impacts our region by visiting the links below.