In New Zealand we simply don't know, statistics New Zealand does not categorise equestrian sector activities.  We do know that there are numerous businesses that surround every horse; feed merchants to farriers, trainers to transporters and many, many others. 

 

So in an effort to correct this, we are surveying horse owners to see how much the average horse pumps into the economy. 

 

Based on Agribase's biosecurity database there are 120,000 horses currently registered, and approx 40,000 of those are racehorses. 

 

That leaves 80,000 registered recreation\sporthorses.  Our ave spend result so far is $13,000 per horse per year.  1 billion dollars of annual economic input from recreational horse owners.  This figure does not include capital expenses, export of horses, or downstream economic inputs from businesses. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On average survey respondents so far spend just under  $13,000 per year per horse (excluding large capital expenses).

 

The biggest single expenditure is on feeding\housing (grazing fees or livery), however when similar expenses are categorised - travel (vehicle expenses and maintenance), recreation and education costs are the biggest category averaging just under $5,000 per year per horse.

 

Big capital expenses included property, buildings, vehicles and saddlery.

Most respondents who had purchased property did so purely so they could have their horses at home.  For horse owners the average property price of $830.000 is only the start; barns and stables were high on the list of improvements with costs running from the simple DIY barn @ $6000, through to $200,000. About 20% of respondents had build an arena on their property, at an average cost of $21,000.

Everyone had purchased saddles and other tack, which averaged $7000 per horse. This figure suddenly looked extremely reasonable when compared to the most common large expenditure, a vehicle.  With so few safe roads, and even fewer bridleways in this country it is almost compulsory for a horse owner to also have a horse float or truck to be able to ride, and certainly to compete. Expenditure on vehicles averaged $38,000; this is considered an extremely conservative figure as the survey did not include any respondents
who spent over $100,000 on a vehicle, yet a large new, truck can cost as much as $750,000.

Those without horses still spend up on their passion; averaging $3000 per year on lessons, horse hire and equestrian clothing or accessories.