Equine Science (3rd edition)

By: Rick Parker

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Synopsis: Horses hold a special place in North America's history and culture. As America evolved, horses contributed to the economy by providing power for transportation and industry. Today horses still contribute to the economy but in a much different way. According to a study commissioned by the American Horse Council Foundation, the 9.2 million horses in the United States contribute $39 billion annually in direct economic impact and support 1.4 million jobs on a full-time basis. When indirect spending is included, the horse industry's economic impact reaches $102 billion annually. The overall economic impact of horses comes from racing, recreation, sports, rodeos, farm work, pleasure riding, and competitions. While millions of people participate in the horse industry as spectators, almost 5 million Americans are involved in the industry as horse owners, service providers, employees, and volunteers. Horses are found in every state, and 45 states have at least 20,000 horses. The horse industry is vital and growing. With this vitality and growth comes the need for information about horses, so the numbers of horse-related educational programs, books, pamphlets, videos, and Internet sites are increasing rapidly.