Some major statistics from the survey are listed below, as well as selected data tables that reflect some of the key findings from the survey. A summary brochure is being prepared and will be available in the coming weeks from the VA Horse Industry Board office. You can request it by calling the office at 804/786-5842, or emailing andrea.heid@vdacs.virginia.gov.
Key findings of the recently released (March 2011) study conducted by Dr. Terance Rephann of the University of Weldon Cooper Center include:
- The Virginia horse industry has an economic impact of $1.2 billion.
- The industry generated more than 16,000 jobs in 2010 in Virginia with the greatest effects in the agriculture and ag services sectors, and a lesser effect in the areas of trade and construction.
- The largest areas of economic impact continue to be in Northern Virginia. More than 1,600 jobs in Fauquier and Loudoun are horse related. However, the largest employment impact in the state is in Rockbridge Country—the location of the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington. More than 1,330 jobs are industry related in Lexington and Buena Vista.
- The horse industry in Virginia generates $65.3 million in state and local taxes. More than 50% of that figure represents state taxes.
- Horse owners spend $873 million annually on horse-related expenses—including feed and bedding(the largest area of expense), boarding, training, tack, capital improvements, and labor. These expenses average out to $4,060 per horse.
- Nearly 1,200 horse shows and events were held in Virginia in 2010 - generating $25 million in revenue. Some 939,000 people attended Virginia horse shows and competitions last year. Out of state participants spent an average of $3,100 per event per “travel party.”
- Horses are the 9th largest agricultural commodity in Virginia according to cash receipts and Virginia ranks 12th in the nation for numbers of horses. According to the Census of Ag Statistics, while the number of farms in Virginia decreased between 1997-2007, the number of farms with horses actually increased(from 10,972 to 13,520) during that same period—offsetting a more significant decline in farms.
Previously determined in the 2006 USDA-NASS* Virginia Equine Survey, partially funded by the Virginia Horse Industry Board, two figures remain basically unchanged. There are an estimated 215,000 equines in Virginia and some 41,000 equine operations. To download these results, go to www.nass.usda,gov/va. Under Virginia Publications, click on Equine Report and you can view the results of both the 2006 and the 2001 reports.
*U.S. Department of Agriculture-National Ag Statistics Service
Virginia Horse Operations Expenditures, 2010
Expenditures |
Total Expenditure |
Average prer Opeation |
Average per Horse |
| Purchases and upkeep |
|
|
|
Feed and bedding
|
$116,019,108 | $2,830 | $540 |
Equipment purchases
|
$97,925,384 | $2,388 | $455 |
Horse purchases
|
$72,831,744 | $1,776 | $339 |
Veterinarian/health
|
$69,519,456 | $1,696 | $323 |
Boarding
|
$45,424,532 | $1,108 | $211 |
Training fees
|
$44,546,252 | $1,086 | $207 |
Farrier services
|
$40,906,896 | $998 | $190 |
Taxes
|
$39,149,716 | $955 | $182 |
Maintenance repair expenses
|
$41,272,960 | $1,007 | $192 |
Breeding fees
|
$26,490,690 | $646 | $123 |
Insurance premiums
|
$18,406,824 | $449 | $86 |
Tack
|
$16,174,441 | $394 | $75 |
Utilities
|
$12,784,672 | $312 | $59 |
Rent and lease expenditures
|
$13,077,504 | $319 | $61 |
Grooming supplies
|
$11,280,790 | $275 | $52 | | Horse related activities |
Travel and lodging
| $23,167,997 | $565 | $108 |
Advertising expenses
| $4,699,315 | $115 | $22 |
Professional fees
| $4,536,664 | $111 | $21 |
Miscellaneous expenses
| $7,408,176 | $181 | $34 | | Labor and capital improvements |
Capital improvements
| $87,149,952 | $2,126 | $405 |
Paid labor
| $71,889,656 | $1,753 | $334 |
Other contracted labor expenses
| $8,330,441 | $203 | $39 | | $872,993,169 | $21,293 | $4,060 |
Source: National Agricultural Statistics Service (2008) and defl ators from IMPLAN
Impact of Horse Industry on State and Local Taxes, 2010
Tax Source |
Impact |
| State taxes | |
Sales and use tax, 4% rate
| $9,156,020 |
Individual income tax
| $18,538,938 |
Pari-mutuel wagering revenue
| $1,866,956 |
Other state taxes (corporate income, motor fuels, etc.)
| $7,903,888 | | Total | $37,465,802 | Local taxes |
Local option sales and use tax, 1% rate
| $2,289,005 |
Meals tax
| $2,233,027 |
Lodgings tax
| $1,495,075 |
Pari-mutuel wagering revenue
| $911,104 |
Other local taxes (property, business license, etc.)
| $20,898,416 | Total | $27,826,627 |
| Total state and local taxes | $65,292,429 |
Sources: Center for Economic and Policy Studies, Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service and the Virginia Racing Commission
Economic and Fiscal Impacts of Virginia Horse Industry by Locality
(and Tax Revenue Generated)
Locality |
Employment |
Value-Added |
Total Sales |
Tax Revenue |
| Accomack | 34 | $817,911 | $1,502,206 | $25,046 | | Albemarle and Charlottesville City | 538 | $18,760,123 | $31,810,840 | $842,330 | | Alexandria | 0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | | Alleghany and Covington City | 27 | $778,347 | $1,329,334 | $32,809 | | Amelia | 74 | $1,652,745 | $3,082,717 | $55,896 | | Amherst | 85 | $2,181,002 | $3,814,781 | $86,620 | | Appomattox | 43 | $818,019 | $1,571,807 | $30,547 | | Arlington | 0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | | Augusta and cities of Staunton and Waynesboro | 293 | $8,968,285 | $15,749,054 | $303,879 | | Bath | 17 | $490,662 | $833,577 | $18,801 | | Bedford and Bedford City | 398 | $8,903,747 | $16,501,721 | $388,398 | | Bland | 24 | $627,222 | $1,058,419 | $17,041 | | Botetourt | 115 | $3,671,648 | $6,210,707 | $133,429 | | Brunswick | 72 | $2,052,792 | $4,634,522 | $93,029 | | Buchanan | 9 | $226,758 | $384,441 | $10,346 | | Buckingham | 60 | $1,305,672 | $2,426,744 | $55,859 | | Campbell and Lynchburg City | 129 | $3,862,234 | $6,759,149 | $107,138 | | Caroline | 53 | $1,269,574 | $2,252,493 | $69,354 | | Carroll and Galax City | 110 | $2,917,963 | $5,198,827 | $101,359 | | Charles City | 16 | $397,052 | $655,463 | $19,433 | | Charlotte | 45 | $1,059,896 | $1,981,262 | $35,040 | | Chesapeake | 271 | $10,384,889 | $19,828,197 | $761,173 | | Chesterfield | 133 | $5,010,665 | $8,639,431 | $235,805 | | Clarke | 336 | $12,239,654 | $20,451,415 | $608,963 | | Craig | 23 | $487,903 | $921,799 | $19,429 | | Culpeper | 716 | $20,815,563 | $38,201,164 | $1,108,299 | | Cumberland | 24 | $674,074 | $1,144,873 | $29,122 | | Dickenson | 8 | $214,917 | $349,368 | $13,274 | | Dinwiddie and cities of Colonial Heights and Petersburg | 99 | $3,040,618 | $5,263,866 | $113,916 | | Essex | 18 | $530,367 | $920,322 | $23,490 | | Fairfax and cities of Fairfax and Falls Church | 469 | $15,131,534 | $26,329,507 | $639,952 | | Fauquier | 883 | $31,727,017 | $53,676,492 | $2,113,116 | | Floyd | 82 | $1,930,414 | $3,712,840 | $89,317 | | Fluvanna | 123 | $2,900,832 | $5,028,750 | $199,397 | | Franklin | 78 | $2,766,679 | $4,665,405 | $145,635 | | Frederick and Winchester City | 166 | $4,879,448 | $8,499,769 | $170,381 | | Giles | 52 | $1,334,663 | $2,390,490 | $40,198 | | Gloucester | 52 | $1,478,779 | $2,618,640 | $79,606 | | Goochland | 176 | $5,546,389 | $9,408,643 | $136,065 | | Grayson | 90 | $1,932,530 | $3,507,851 | $83,094 | | Greene | 40 | $1,034,962 | $1,856,229 | $73,473 | | Greensville and Emporia City | 21 | $494,023 | $919,381 | $12,596 | | Halifax | 73 | $2,005,006 | $3,544,862 | $63,013 | | Hampton | 71 | $2,861,311 | $6,759,426 | $226,709 | | Hanover | 284 | $10,190,591 | $16,507,758 | $499,306 | | Henrico | 272 | $11,331,069 | $21,571,176 | $468,647 | | Henry and Martinsville City | 134 | $4,196,213 | $9,282,779 | $148,282 | | Highland | 21 | $398,343 | $733,501 | $14,877 | | Isle of Wight | 122 | $3,651,587 | $6,579,048 | $208,852 | | James City and Williamsburg City | 78 | $2,159,517 | $3,780,792 | $103,044 | | King and Queen | 47 | $1,250,362 | $2,275,105 | $44,124 | | King George | 41 | $1,088,537 | $1,974,875 | $20,767 | | King William | 36 | $1,415,642 | $2,324,279 | $85,353 | | Lancaster | 20 | $604,653 | $1,059,483 | $24,495 | | Lee | 119 | $2,494,776 | $4,805,263 | $66,616 | | Loudoun | 1,079 | $44,154,154 | $70,425,051 | $2,890,422 | | Louisa | 120 | $4,054,413 | $6,767,457 | $126,219 | | Lunenburg | 30 | $747,648 | $1,379,426 | $19,471 | | Madison | 118 | $3,473,030 | $6,048,513 | $179,637 | | Mathews | 10 | $243,861 | $462,945 | $13,288 | | Mecklenburg | 79 | $2,155,361 | $3,868,232 | $67,097 | | Middlesex | 52 | $1,111,543 | $2,070,962 | $55,769 | | Montgomery and Radford City | 176 | $5,644,695 | $9,632,158 | $168,642 | | Nelson | 59 | $1,407,876 | $2,564,696 | $100,259 | | New Kent | 789 | $12,516,968 | $28,185,674 | $1,523,460 | | Newport News | 4 | $106,265 | $196,266 | $7,802 | | Norfolk | 0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | | Northampton | 16 | $349,208 | $669,118 | $16,870 | | Northumberland | 17 | $405,177 | $713,501 | $30,819 | | Nottoway | 44 | $1,148,853 | $1,996,753 | $24,574 | | Orange | 268 | $10,104,815 | $16,518,479 | $511,381 | | Page | 112 | $3,131,298 | $5,646,799 | $173,073 | | Patrick | 71 | $1,487,690 | $2,952,954 | $46,085 | | Pittsylvania and Danville City | 157 | $4,482,258 | $7,941,972 | $126,027 | | Portsmouth | 0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | | Powhatan | 131 | $3,535,446 | $6,234,218 | $239,512 | | Prince Edward | 55 | $1,754,669 | $2,959,336 | $52,826 | | Prince George and Hopewell City | 71 | $2,258,655 | $3,840,836 | $55,911 | | Prince William and cities of Manassas and Manassas Park | 326 | $11,951,779 | $20,495,436 | $874,803 | | Pulaski | 81 | $2,085,216 | $3,779,403 | $82,522 | | Rappahannock | 77 | $2,009,578 | $3,591,170 | $140,467 | | Richmond | 7 | $165,757 | $285,319 | $4,210 | | Richmond City | 86 | $4,809,012 | $10,074,460 | $240,662 | | Roanoke City | 0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | | Roanoke and Salem City | 214 | $6,751,268 | $13,494,112 | $336,651 | | Rockbridge and cities of Buena Vista and Lexington | 1,331 | $33,562,214 | $61,461,773 | $2,321,764 | | Rockingham and Harrisonburg City | 227 | $7,063,090 | $12,383,572 | $212,930 | | Russell | 126 | $3,143,611 | $5,697,273 | $95,830 | | Scott | 223 | $5,570,792 | $11,580,569 | $193,472 | | Shenandoah | 139 | $3,784,927 | $6,830,609 | $150,335 | | Smyth | 125 | $2,995,373 | $5,497,319 | $72,200 | | Southampton and Franklin City | 42 | $1,164,519 | $2,127,793 | $61,362 | | Spotsylvania and Fredericksburg City | 269 | $7,995,271 | $14,649,210 | $465,615 | | Stafford | 46 | $1,590,239 | $2,642,361 | $87,340 | | Suffolk | 128 | $4,093,292 | $7,165,322 | $317,715 | | Surry | 7 | $216,719 | $352,846 | $3,228 | | Sussex | 43 | $985,263 | $1,800,069 | $33,540 | | Tazewell | 146 | $4,221,922 | $7,276,023 | $109,456 | | Virginia Beach | 242 | $6,521,318 | $12,078,179 | $380,933 | | Warren | 81 | $2,483,244 | $4,299,750 | $114,495 | | Washington and Bristol City | 332 | $9,227,883 | $16,252,099 | $236,737 | | Westmoreland | 8 | $175,501 | $312,542 | $12,276 | | Wise and Norton City | 25 | $937,941 | $1,556,506 | $23,965 | | Wythe | 117 | $3,131,091 | $5,480,909 | $99,936 | | York and Poquoson City | 77 | $2,582,523 | $4,419,750 | $132,936 | | Total | 15,299 | $462,458,405 | $823,950,563 | $24,331,263 |
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