$177 billion
added to the U.S. economy
The American Horse Council reports this total economic impact for the U.S. horse industry in its 2023 study.
Source: American Horse Council, 2023 Economic Impact Study
Reference page
U.S. Horse Industry Statistics
A sourced look at the scale of the horse industry, from the horses and land behind it to the work it supports.
Last updated October 2, 2026The numbers behind the work
A national industry built around horses.
Horses are part of a wide-ranging U.S. industry that includes training, ranch work, recreation, competition, racing, care, transport, breeding, and many businesses that serve owners along the way. This page brings together the most useful figures from the latest American Horse Council national economic impact study.
Each statistic links directly to its source so journalists, writers, students, and horse people can verify and cite it. The figures below describe the national industry, not Bar W Performance Horses or a local market.
2.2 million
jobs supported by the industry
This figure includes the jobs tied to the horse industry’s overall economic impact.
Source: American Horse Council, 2023 Economic Impact Study6.65 million
horses in the United States
The national estimate reflects the broad horse population measured in the American Horse Council’s industry study.
Source: American Horse Council, 2023 Economic Impact Study$122 billion
in salaries, wages, and benefits
Horse-related work supports income across training, care, breeding, recreation, competition, racing, and related businesses.
Source: American Horse Council, 2023 Economic Impact Study12.5 million
acres owned or leased for horse-related use
The figure speaks to the land base connected to keeping, training, and using horses across the country.
Source: American Horse Council, 2023 Economic Impact Study62%
of horse owners own or lease property
For a majority of owners, horses are connected to a place they maintain or manage directly.
Source: American Horse Council, 2023 Economic Impact Study$36.7 billion
recreation sector impact
The recreation sector supports 466,969 total jobs, according to the same national study.
Source: American Horse Council, 2023 Economic Impact Study$37.3 billion
competition sector impact
The competition sector supports 486,820 total jobs, showing the scale behind performance and event horses.
Source: American Horse Council, 2023 Economic Impact Study$6.4 billion
traditional work horse sector impact
Traditional work horses support 86,223 total jobs, a category closely connected to ranch and working-horse use.
Source: American Horse Council, 2023 Economic Impact StudyAbout 3,600
equine operations selected for the 2026 USDA farm study
USDA says the nationally sampled operations have at least five equines and are located across all 50 states. The study is collecting current information on equine health and management.
Source: USDA APHIS, Equine 2026 Farm Study informational flyer
Why the categories matter
One industry, many kinds of horse work.
The national totals include sectors that look very different from one another. Recreation and competition each account for more than $36 billion in total impact. Traditional work horses, a smaller but distinct category, account for $6.4 billion and support more than 86,000 jobs.
That range is part of what makes a good foundation so valuable. A horse may be headed for ranch country, the rope box, a trail, or a new owner’s everyday riding program, but calm, useful responses carry from one job to the next.
Explore Bar W trainingMethodology and sources
How to read this page.
The figures on this page come from the American Horse Council’s 2023 Economic Impact Study, published in 2024. That study measures the economic footprint of the U.S. horse industry and its major sectors. Each item above uses the study’s stated figure and links to the source page.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s 2022 Census of Agriculture is a separate, agriculture-specific count of farms and ranches. Its scope differs from a broad horse-industry study, so these sources should not be treated as interchangeable measures of the national horse population.
USDA’s national Equine 2026 farm study began in August 2026. It is collecting updated information from a nationwide sample of operations; results have not yet been published. This reference page will be reviewed when those results arrive or when the American Horse Council releases newer national figures.
Cite this page
Bar W Performance Horses. “U.S. Horse Industry Statistics.” Updated October 2, 2026. https://barwhorses.com/horse-industry-statistics.
Practical work starts with a solid foundation