Kentucky Equine Survey NASS Release - 2012

Kentucky Equine Report
United States Department of Agriculture

National Agricultural Statistics Service
Kentucky Field Office
Dave Knopf, Director
PO Box 1120, Louisville, Kentucky 40201 • (800) 928-5277
Email: [email protected]

Kentucky Equine Survey
According to the 2012 Kentucky Equine Survey, there were
242,400 horses, ponies, mules, donkeys and burros in the state of
Kentucky on July 1, 2012. Light Horse Breeds accounted for
89.2 percent of the total. Draft Horse Breeds and Donkeys, Mules
and Burros accounted for 7.9 percent of the total. Thoroughbreds
were the largest breed in the state (54,000), followed by Quarter
Horses (42,000), Walking Horses (36,000), Saddlebreds (14,000),
donkeys, mules and burros (14,000), Mountain Horse breeds
(12,500) and Standardbreds (9,500). The two largest equine
counties in terms of inventory were Fayette and Bourbon at
24,570 and 12,980 head, respectively.

There were a total of 35,000 equine places throughout Kentucky.
This includes boarding facilities, commercial and private breeding
places, farms, commercial race related places as well as private
residences where equine were being kept for recreational
purposes. These equine operations accounted for a total of
4,300,000 acres of which 1,070,000 acres were devoted to equine.
There were 21,000 operations in Kentucky that had at least one
equine for trail riding.

Kentucky Equine Demographics

Farms or ranches comprised the largest component of Equine
Operations by Business Type. The survey results showed that
19,500 Kentucky equine operations (56 percent) were listed as
farms or ranches, 10,500 operations (30 percent) were for
personal use, 1,100 operations (3 percent) were listed as a
boarding, training, or riding facility, and 700 (2 percent) were
listed as a breeding operation.
The value of the equine inventory on July 1, 2012 was $6.3
billion. Thoroughbred horses accounted for 87 percent of the total
value but only 22 percent of the horse inventory.

Equine Operations

Number
35,000

Total Farm Acreage

Acreage
4,300,000

Acreage for Equine Use

Acreage
1,070,000

Acreage in Land preservation 1/

Acreage
90,000

Average years on the operation

Years
18

Number
Operations that Trail Ride 2/
21,000
1/ Land preservation may include CRP, WRP, FWP, CREP, and land trusts.
2/ Operations that had at least one equine for trail riding.

Kentucky Equine Inventory, Ownership, and Value on July 1, 2012
Total Number of Equine
Equine Category

Inventory
Head

Appaloosa
Arabian & Half-Arabian
Belgian
Clydesdale
Hackney Horse
Miniature Horse
Morgan
Mountain Horse Breed
Paint
Paso Fino
Percheron
Pinto 1/
Quarter Horse
Saddlebred
Standardbred
Thoroughbred
Walking Horse
Other
Ponies
Donkeys, Mules, & Burros

Owned / Partially Owned

Boarded for Others

Estimated Value of Equine on Land
Operated

Head

Head

Dollars

3,800
5,500
3,300
200
1,100
7,000
2,000
12,500
6,500
1,500
1,600
900
42,000
14,000
9,500
54,000
36,000
20,000
7,000
14,000

3,400
4,900
3,200
200
D
6,500
1,700
11,500
6,000
1,300
1,500
D
37,000
10,500
7,500
35,000
33,000
16,500
6,500
13,500

400
600
100
D
500
300
1,000
500
200
100
D
5,000
3,500
1,900
19,000
3,000
3,500
500
500

4,800,000
15,500,000
6,000,000
790,000
4,300,000
5,000,000
12,000,000
31,000,000
12,000,000
3,400,000
3,450,000
1,050,000
146,000,000
173,000,000
119,000,000
5,492,000,000
71,000,000
170,000,000
10,000,000
12,000,000

Total
242,400
1/ Excludes Paints
(D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual farms.

201,400

41,000

6,292,290,000

Type of Use by Breed
Equine Category

Brood
Mares

Appaloosa
Arabian & Half-Arabian
Belgian
Clydesdale
Hackney Horse
Miniature Horse
Morgan
Mountain Horse Breed
Paint
Paso Fino
Percheron
Pinto 1/
Quarter Horse
Saddlebred
Standardbred
Thoroughbred
Walking Horse
Other
Ponies
Donkeys, Mules, & Burros

300
800
450
D
230
1,200
460
2,300
700
180
200
D
3,800
1,900
1,500
16,500
4,800
1,500
300
600

Stallions
at Stud

Yearlings,
Weanlings
& Foals

Competition/
show

90
160
D
D
D
400
D
400
D
D
D
D
600
240
100
600
800
D
100
300

240
140
D
D
D
340
D
700
260
D
80
D
2,000
1,200
1,300
13,500
1,400
1,100
200
500

380
600
170
D
400
1,100
500
1,200
500
110
90
D
6,700
3,500
600
2,400
2,700
2,700
800
D

Total
38,000
3,900
1/Excludes Paints
(D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual farms.

23,000

24,500

Primary Use
Trail
riding/
pleasure
Head
1,900
1,800
300
D
D
1,600
500
6,500
3,200
900
D
450
19,000
4,500
1,700
2,300
20,000
8,000
2,700
3,200
79,500

Work/
Transportation

Racing

Idle /
Not
Working

Other
Activities

D
D
1,800
D
D
60
210
100
240
D
700
D
2,000
360
1,700
100
700
1,000
400
2,800

D
D
D
600
1,000
13,000
D
D

600
1,400
350
D
D
1,800
160
1,000
1,100
210
170
140
5,300
1,600
700
3,900
4,300
3,900
2,000
4,000

210
400
100
D
D
500
D
300
350
10
D
100
2,000
700
900
1,700
1,300
1,300
500
2,300

12,500

15,000

33,000

13,000

Income and Expenses
The total of all equine-related sales and income for equine
operations in 2011 was about $1.1 billion. The total came from
sales of all equine, estimated to be $521.1 million, and $491
million in income from services provided, including both
breeding and non-breeding services such as training, lessons,
boarding, farrier, transportation, purses, incentives, etc.

operating expenditures and 29 percent were capital expenditures.
Capital expenditures by equine operations, including the purchase
of equines, real estate and improvements and equipment, were
estimated to be $338 million. Operating expenditures totaled $839
million. Notably, 77 percent of these operating expenses were
spent in Kentucky.

Total equine related expenditures spent in Kentucky in calendar
year 2011 amounted to $1.2 billion of which 71 percent were

Kentucky Sales and Income
Equine Sales

Capital Expenditures
Head

Horses and Ponies
Mules, Donkeys, or Burros
Total Equine
Equine Services
Income from Breeding Services
Income from Non-breeding Services
Total Equine Services Income
Value of Sales
Horses and Ponies
Mules, Donkeys, or Burros
Total Equine
Equine Given Away

47,000
3,000
50,000
Dollars
220,000,000
271,000,000
491,000,000
Dollars
520,000,000
2,100,000
522,100,000
Head

Total Equine
Equine Related Activities for Business
Income generating

12,500
Percent
61%

Dollars
185,000,000
82,000,000
71,000,000

Expenditure
Purchases of Equine
Real Estate Purchases and Improvements
Equipment Purchases
Total Capital Expenditures

338,000,000

Kentucky Operating Expenditures
Expenses Paid
Boarding Fees Paid to Others
Feed
Bedding
Health (vet fees)
Supplies
Farrier
Breeding Fees
Maintenance/Repair
Insurance Premiums
Utilities/Fuel
Taxes
Rent/Lease
Fees & Payments
Shipping & Travel
Miscellaneous
Training Fees
Total Expenses

Dollars
48,000,000
123,000,000
21,000,000
71,000,000
27,000,000
34,000,000
85,000,000
149,000,000
41,000,000
38,000,000
34,000,000
14,000,000
25,000,000
34,000,000
26,000,000
69,000,000

% Spent in KY
80
85
85
82
81
85
77
73
77
86
78
88
69
70
79
60

839,000,000

77

Equine Assets and Labor
The value of all equine related assets, including the value of the
equine inventory, totaled $23.4 billion. The reported value of
equine-related assets, including land and buildings, vehicles and
equipment, feed and supplies and tack and equestrian clothing, is
$17.1 billion. The value of land, fencing and buildings made up
59.4 percent of the total assets and the value of inventory
accounted for 26.9 percent of the total assets.

Labor Expenses
Competition,
7%

Racing, 15%
Recreation,
1%

Other, 37%

There were a total of 13,000 workers reported on Kentucky
Equine Operations during 2011. There were 5,600 full time
workers, and 7,400 part time employees. The Total Payroll
Expenses Paid to workers on Kentucky equine operations during
2011 was estimated at $202 million. Additionally, Non-wage
Benefits Provided totaled $16.7 million during the same period.

Breeding ,
40%

Assets and Labor
Current Value

Labor
Dollars

Number

Equine Related Land and Buildings
Vehicles and Equipment
Feed and Supplies
Tack and Equestrian Clothing
Value of Equine on Land Operated

13,900,000,000
2,990,000,000
58,000,000
114,000,000
6,292,290,000

Full Time workers
Part Time workers

5,600
7,400

Total Value of all Assets

23,354,290,000

Non-wage Benefits Provided

Dollars
Payroll Expenses Paid

202,000,000
16,700,000

Kentucky Equine: Inventory, Value, and Breed, by Selected Counties, July 1, 2012

Head
24,600
13,000
11,900
7,400
7,000
6,500
4,700
4,500
4,500
4,300

Value of
Equine
Inventory
Dollars
2,608,789,000
861,403,000
1,036,568,000
124,148,000
326,614,000
140,851,000
163,019,000
332,552,000
11,328,000
71,705,000

Hardin
Mercer
Barren
Harrison
Adair
Hart
Pulaski
Madison
Grayson
Lincoln

4,300
3,700
3,600
3,500
3,400
3,300
3,200
3,100
3,000
3,000

Nelson
Christian
Grant
Henry
Allen
Graves
Fleming
Morgan
Clark
Pendleton

2,800
2,700
2,700
2,500
2,400
2,400
2,300
2,300
2,200
2,200

County

Fayette
Bourbon
Woodford
Jefferson
Scott
Shelby
Oldham
Jessamine
Warren
Boone

Equine
Inventory

Thoroughbred

Quarter Horse

Walking Horse

17,510
9,330
8,440
D
3,170
920
2,150
2,250
210
1,090

960
380
570
960
690
810
570
330
1,070
750

Head
360
270
180
180
680
300
120
500
1,000
390

20,622,000
D
8,409,000
9,975,000
8,906,000
6,726,000
11,795,000
10,745,000
5,247,000
11,718,000

180
900
D
320
D
D
D
220
D
D

1,310
690
1,140
690
220
640
420
770
720
410

7,890,000
5,026,000
6,114,000
13,921,000
6,611,000
10,372,000
4,442,000
3,986,000
22,971,000
6,343,000

D
D
D
210
D
D
D
110
450
D

Taylor
2,100
D
120
Boyle
2,000
15,508,000
130
Carter
2,000
3,584,000
D
Marion
2,000
6,305,000
D
Meade
2,000
7,360,000
D
(D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual farms or value less than 100.

Saddlebred

Donkeys,
Mules & Burros

Mountain
Horse Breed

400
580
670
700
330
1,560
210
220
110
370

120
150
110
260
230
160
100
160
310
D

1,090
360
D
200
150
D
D
160
220
D

650
490
650
970
1,730
400
1,110
770
710
750

390
240
180
D
120
130
350
D
D
D

330
180
350
D
380
250
220
150
340
230

D
120
D
310
D
D
D
210
D
D

660
500
860
610
630
1,080
450
D
170
1,170

540
160
550
190
180
600
610
420
330
440

180
220
D
140
160
D
D
130
D
D

190
410
D
130
370
280
170
140
D
D

D
D
D
D
D
D
100
680
270
D

240
320
D
520
790

690
260
860
560
120

160
270
350
D
D

140
260
110
140
180

D
D
D
D
D