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Economic Impact of the Ontario Horse Industry

Author: Dr. Bob Wright - Lead Veterinarian, Equine and Alternate Species/OMAFRA
Creation Date: 01 September 2005
Last Reviewed: 01 September 2005

 

Wright and Cation, 1996, completed an extensive survey of the horse industry over a three-year period and published a summary, the 1996 Ontario Horse Industry Report. In this research, respondent horse owners were cross-referenced to the horse-owner respondents in the 1991 Census of Agriculture.

The Census of Agriculture defines a census farm as a farm operation that has at least $2,500 of gross farm income. It excludes many of the horse owners (and horses) whose properties do not fit the definition of a 'census farm.' Research determined that the 1991 Census data for total horses and total number of farms underestimated the Ontario horse industry in 1995 by a factor of 3.9. However, the census is useful in that it is completed every four years and can be used along with the percentage increase from the previous census to estimate the horse population and number of horse farms on a continuing basis.

Table 1 summarizes the changes in the size of the Ontario horse industry over the past 65 years.

Table 1. Changes in the Size of the Ontario Horse Industry over the Past 65 Years
Census Year Census Horse Population Percent Change
(from previous census)		 Census Farms Estimated Horse Population
(Wright)		 Estimated Number of Horse Facilities
1936 562,916 - 2.6 %      

1941		 533,742 - 5.2 %      
1946 491,287 - 8.0 %      
1951 260,627 - 47.0 %      
1956 139,661 - 50.3 %      
1960 95,000 - 32.0 %      
1966 75,355 - 20.7 % 25,366    
1971 79,869 6.0 % 23,308    
1976 N/A   N/A    
1981 74,986 - 6.1 % 14,565    
1986 74,961 - 0.03% 13,523    
1991 75,132 0.2 % 12,353 293,015 48,198
1996 76,553 1.9 %   298,582 49,114
2001 83,337 8.9 % 11,258 325,156 53,485

N/A Not available (horses were not specified separately on the 1976 Census of Agriculture form).

Regional Development Opportunities

There are opportunities to enhance the regional horse industry and development strategies should be planned to encourage the growth and well-being of the local industry and the local economy.

Agribusiness and new entrepreneurs need to be aware of the tremendous size and economic impact of the horse industry in their county/municipality/region, so they can plan the future development of their businesses and recognize opportunities for growth.

Economic Impact of the Horse Industry in Ontario

Table 2 estimates the economic impact of the horse industry for each region and county of Ontario. These estimates are based on the 1991 Census horse numbers by county, adjusted by the 3.9 factor, and by percentage increases from the 1996 and 2001 Census reports. No allowance has been made to the economic impact based on the cost-of-living changes between 1995 and 2001.

Table 2. Economic Impact of the Horse Industry for each Region and County of Ontario, 2001
County/Region Estimated Number
of Farms		 Estimated Number
of Horses 		Annual Economic Impact
(Median = $1,781/horse)		 Investment in
Fixed Assets
(Median = $18,250/horse)
Province of Ontario 53,485 325,156 579.1 M 5.9 B
Southern Ontario Region 11,625 77,394 137.8 M 1.4 B
Hamilton-Wentworth Region
874 7,612 13.6 M 138.9 M
Niagara Regional Municipality 1,285 8,534 15.2 M 155.7 M
Haldimand-Norfolk Region 1,221 7,603 13.5 M 138.8 M
Brant County 754 5,271 9.4 M 96.2 M
Oxford County 1,524 8,309 14.8 M 151.6 M
Elgin County 1,064 8,175 14.6 M 149.2 M
Kent County 658 4,008 7.1 M 73.1 M
Essex County 645 3,658 6.5 M 66.8 M
Lambton County 1,250 7,072 12.6 M 129.1 M
Middlesex County 2,350 17,152 30.5 M 313.0 M
Western Ontario Region 19,319 119,923 213.6 M 2.2 B
Peel Regional Municipality 736 10,621 18.9 M 193.8 M
Dufferin County 982 6,358 11.3 M 116.0 M
Wellington County 2,990 18,293 32.6 M 333.8 M
Halton Regional Municipality 1,043 13,901 24.8 M 253.7 M
Waterloo Regional Municipality 2,769 15,017 26.7 M 274.1 M
Perth County 2,026 9,430 16.8 M 172.1 M
Huron County 1,852 8,171 14.6 M 149.1 M
Bruce County 1,788 9,546 17.0 M 174.2 M
Grey County 2,713 14,005 24.9 M 255.6 M
Simcoe County 2,419 14,581 26.0 M 266.1 M
Central Ontario Region 10,460 71,088 126.7 M 1.3 B
Hastings County 1,160 5,202 9.3 M 94.9 M
Prince Edward County 451 2,402 4.3 M 43.8 M
Northumberland County 1,241 7,149 12.7 M 130.5 M
Peterborough County 1,376 6,998 12.5 M 127.7 M
Victoria County 1,576 6,976 12.4 M 127.3 M
Durham Regional Municipality 2,251 18,341 32.7 M 334.7 M
York Regional Municipality 1,515 19,544 34.8 M 356.7 M
Muskoka District Municipality 285 1,710 3.0 M 31.2 M
Haliburton County 130 774 1.4 M 14.1 M
Parry Sound District 476 1,991 3.5 M 36.3 M
Eastern Ontario Region 9,249 43,953 78.3 M 802.1 M
Stormont, Dundas, & Glengarry 1,437 6,041 10.8 M 110.2 M
Prescott & Russell Unit 853 3,401 6.1 M 62.1 M
Ottawa-Carleton Region 1,732 11,339 20.2 M 206.9 M
Leeds & Grenville Unit 1,550 8,002 14.3 M 146.0 M
Lanark County 991 4,588 8.2 M 83.7 M
Frontenac County 793 3,449 6.1 M 62.9 M
Lennox & Addington County 628 2,817 5.0 M 51.4 M
Renfrew County 1,269 4,315 7.7 M 78.7 M
Northern Ontario Region 2,830 12,797 22.8 M 233.5 M
Nipissing District 265 866 1.5 M 15.8 M
Manitoulin District 298 1,026 1.8 M 18.7 M
Sudbury District 198 745 1.3 M 13.6 M
Sudbury Regional Municipality 186 1,684 3.0 M 30.7 M
Temiskaming District 489 2,189 3.9 M 39.9 M
Cochrane District 259 943 1.7 M 17.2 M
Algoma District 451 2,059 3.7 M 37.6 M
Thunder Bay District 195 1,321 2.4 M 24.1 M
Rainy River District 316 1,064 1.9 M 19.4 M
Kenora District 173 900 1.6 M 16.4 M

References

1996 Ontario Horse Industry Report - Dr. Bob Wright, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, (519) 846-3412, Fax (519) 846-8101, E-mail: robert.wright@omaf.gov.on.ca (Cost: $35.00 + Shipping and Handling + G.S.T.)

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