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The
number of farms in Alabama continues to shrink as urban sprawl and giant
corporations convert pastures into profit centers.
Horses,
like cattle, may be taken for granted, but they last a lot longer than
animals destined for McDonalds or Burger King.
According
to the study by Molnar and McCall, an AU animal scientist, most of the
$2.4 billion derived from horses each year in Alabama comes from care
and maintenance including veterinary services, medication, insurance,
feed and bedding.
Molnar
said their study showed that about 90 percent of Alabama’s horses are
used for recreational purposes. They may no longer be hauling equipment
or helping to prepare fields like their mule counterparts, but horses
still find themselves much in demand.
Horses
may not cost as much as a car, but their upkeep can cause some owners to
blink when they receive a bill from their veterinarian. The study shows
the average maintenance cost to owners is just over $8,700 annually.
It’s
even more expensive for those who like to show off their prized animals
at competitive events around the state and nation.
The
study shows that nearly 10 percent of the Alabama horse population is
used for showing at a cost of more than $28,000 annually.
A
very small percentage of Alabama horses are classified as
"high-value animals" and they can cost their owners nearly
$70,000 a year in tender, loving care expenses.
Molnar
said the AU study showed that there has been a 44 percent increase in
horse ownership in Alabama during the past decade and attributed it, in
part, to the growing prosperity in some parts of the state.
"Some
people now are able to buy 10 acres of land in Shelby County so they can
have one or more horses," he said. "The number of saddle clubs
in the state continues to grow. More arenas are being built to show
horses."
Alabama
can’t compare with Kentucky, Maryland and other states where
thoroughbreds are raised and trained, but that hasn’t lessened the
love affair its citizens have with those speedy animals.
"People
have a great deal of affection for horses," Molnar said. "For
example, I think everybody in the country was in love with that
horse." He referred to Barbaro, the Kentucky Derby winner who broke
his right rear leg moments after the starting gate opened for the
Preakness Stakes in May.
Owning
a superstar racehorse is out of reach for most Alabamians, but they can
use what they have for special projects related to the equine industry,
Molnar said.
"A
study such as ours might help obtain a loan, for instance, if it’s
related to the equine industry," he said. "It’s important to
document that industry and we are happy to have completed our
study."
Thoroughbred
horses have a long history in Alabama and, while they may not rival
their cousins in Kentucky, their presence has a long "track
record" in our state.
The
AU report points out that Andrew Jackson raced thoroughbreds at a track
by the Green Bottom Inn near Huntsville. In addition to an early history
of racing in Alabama, thoroughbreds have been popular for English riding
clubs, jumping, polo, hunting and pleasure riding. More than 6,500 of
that breed call Alabama home.
The
study included a telephone survey of 879 Alabama households to find out
how many owned horses. The internet also was used with e-mails sent to
130 homes involved in the horse industry.
Molnar
said personal interviews also were conducted with several individuals
involved in the equine industry. They included owners, breeders,
trainers, event organizers, storeowners and suppliers.
Quarter
Horses dominate the landscape in Alabama, according to the study. Of the
186,871 horses accounted for in the report, 49,688 are Quarter Horses.
The second largest contingent is the Racking Horse with 22,000 in
Alabama.
The
study also gives credit to equine-related organizations such as the
Alabama Horse Council, the Alabama Open Horseman Association and saddle
clubs around the state.
"The
Alabama horse industry is best understood as a loosely connected
aggregate of breeds and related associations that support an annual
cycle of competitions and recognition," the study said. "The
diversity of breeds is an important attribute of the state’s horse
industry."
More
than 20 different breeds—from draft horses to Paso Finos—are
represented. The state has seen a big increase in the number of non-farm
horses since the first study was released 10 years ago.
In
Alabama, the Quarter Horse is, by far, the most popular member of the
equine industry—used for everything from herding cattle to thrilling
crowds at rodeos throughout the state.
"Shows
are the major driving force behind Alabama’s Quarter Horse
industry," the study said. "In 2005, the American Quarter
Horse Association sanctioned 13 Quarter Horse shows in Alabama."
Perhaps
the most historic breed in Alabama is the McCurdy Plantation Horse,
which was developed by the McCurdy family in Lowndes County in the late
1800s.
The
family operated plantations in the Black Belt region west of Montgomery
and needed well-gaited, durable horses to oversee and work the land,
especially the planting and picking of cotton.
"McCurdy
Plantation Horses have a very calm, easy-going temperament that makes
them unequaled as personal and family horses," the study said.
"They excel at many tasks such as trail riding, field trialing and
driving, and working livestock."
In
addition to their beauty, poise and popularity on the farm, horses also
serve as a therapeutic bonus. Those with physical, mental and emotional
problems are encouraged to ride horses whenever they have an
opportunity.
The
Marion Green-Henry Special Equestrian Program located at the Alabama
Institute for the Deaf and Blind in Talladega, is one of the largest
therapeutic equine programs in the world.
Most
Alabamians own "ordinary" horses and have no intention of
entering them in any form of competition. They just like to hop on board
to go for a ride on weekends or whenever they have time from work.
The
increased popularity of horses no doubt played a part in Auburn
University’s decision to add an equine science option to its
curriculum, beginning this fall.
The
Department of Animal Sciences announced late last year that courses to
be offered will include an introduction to horse management and training
as well as courses in equine nutrition, biomechanics and shoeing,
marketing, coaching, reproductive management and physiology of the
equine athlete and horse production.
"This
isn’t a series of horseback riding classes," said McCall.
"This is a strong science-based program that will prepare students
for upper-level-management jobs in the horse industry." |
