The Kentucky Horse Council (KHC) and the University of Kentucky (UK) have joined together to launch a statewide survey in 2022, designed to establish the number of horses in Kentucky and to determine the impact of horses in the Commonwealth. Kentucky has a unique cluster of private and commercial horse farms and operations, with hundreds of horse-related businesses which include everything from transportation to equine health services to tourism. These ancillary businesses create an advantage for Kentucky's equine industry and are integral to Kentucky's economy.
The last survey completed in 2012 was the first done since 1977. The 2022 study, which will provide information on a county-by-county basis, will be a collaborative effort between the KHC, UK, and the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). The survey aims to provide data for disease surveillance, keep policy makers informed and engaged proactively, inform workforce development, and identify emerging markets on which businesses can capitalize
“Data obtained from this study are important for the sustained strength and continued growth of Kentucky's equine industry,” said Dr. Jill Stowe, a UK professor and an equine industry economist. “Decision makers such as entrepreneurs and business owners, equine health providers, and policy makers can utilize this data to make sound, well-informed decisions on important issues facing the industry.”
Click to participate in the 2022 Kentucky Equine Survey. Questions can be directed to equine@uky.edu. Information about the 2012 Kentucky Equine Survey can be found here.
Once complete, results will be available free of charge on the KHC website in county-level fact sheets as well as in a statewide report.
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