RED DEER – Horses are so much a part of the landscape in the state of
Kentucky that many take the industry for granted.
“Of the four million people who reside in the commonwealth of Kentucky,
a large majority of those people don’t have a clue about the
significance of our industry,” said David Switzer, executive director
of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association.
A keynote speaker at an Alberta horse breeders conference in Red Deer,
Switzer described how breeders rallied to sell a product and an
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industry in the bluegrass state.
The industry had to overcome the perception that the Thoroughbred
business is the realm of wealthy hobby farmers who dabble in horse
racing when they are not sipping champagne with the rich and famous.
While there are some wealthy people in the industry, the average net
income of breeders is $49,000 US. The average gross income is $1.89
million and expenses are nearly $1.84 million. Most farms have fewer
than 250 acres where they board or raise about 35 horses, Switzer said.
It is a risky business with slow returns, taking five years to get a
horse to the races.
However, the equine industry is the top cash crop for Kentucky
agriculture, bringing $3.4 billion to the state. It produces 29 percent
of North America’s Thoroughbred horses and employs 80,000 people
directly or indirectly through agriculture or tourism.
To raise awareness, horse farmers were encouraged to get involved in
local civic groups and agricultural boards. The Thoroughbred
association formed a speaker’s bureau and hired a public relations firm
to build awareness of the industry. Representatives met with editorial
boards of newspapers.
The Thoroughbred association formed a partnership with Future Farmers
of America to promote the industry and educate youth about the value of
the horse industry to American agriculture.
Switzer said a large problem within the horse industry is its seeming
inability to work together for a common cause. When the industry lost
more than $350 million due to mare reproductive loss syndrome since
last April, it realized the importance of self-promotion.
Farm aid was not generally available to the horse industry so
presentations were made before the state legislature and Congress to
gain recognition and help.
Kentucky horse breeders lost 516 foals in 2001 and 2,998 early
abortions have already been recorded for 2002.
Interest-free loans were provided and the association is lobbying to
include horses in disaster aid packages.
Horses were also caught up in environmental issues in terms of manure
management. More urban development is approaching horse farms and
complaints are rising.
“Environmental issues and equine industry in the United States is a
real hot topic,” said Switzer.
Negotiations are under way between horse associations and the
Environmental Protection Agency to outline acceptable plans for manure
management and animal confinement.
“We’re trying to work it out to decide what we can live with and things
the agency can live with,” said Switzer in an interview.
