Equine An Overview of the Equine Industry in Georgia Georgia Agricultural Education Curriculum Office Dr. Frank Flanders and Catrina Kennedy October 2006

Objectives The student will be able to: Demonstrate the importance of the equine industry. Name the most common breeds in Georgia. State key facts about each breed. Rank Georgia with other states according the equine production.

Why is Equine important to Georgia The Georgia equine industry is a healthy and growing segment of our state's economy with an estimated value of $300 million. There are more than 230, 000 horses in Georgia today. The breeding of horses generates more than $750 million dollars for Georgia’s economy yearly.

Horse Breeds in Georgia Quarter Horses Tennessee Walkers Paints American Saddles Appaloosas.

Quarter Horses The American Quarter Horse is a breed of horse originally bred for sprinting short distances, typically races of a quarter mile or less. The Quarter Horse is the most popular breed in the United States, and is the largest breed society in the world, with over 3.2 million Quarter Horses registered worldwide.

Tennessee Walker The Tennessee Walker is a singularly tractable and comfortable riding horse. The breed was originally bred to carry the owners of plantations around their lands. Their unique four-beat "running walk" is especially comfortable to ride, making the breed a well-suited trail companion.

American Saddlebred The American Saddlebred is a breed of horse that was developed in Kentucky by plantation owners. Today, they are used almost exclusively for saddleseat riding in the show ring, although their uphill build has begun to draw dressage enthusiasts to the breed. They are also used as barrel racers, hunters, jumpers, and parade mounts.

American Paint The American Paint Horse is a breed of horse which is a specific type of stock horse developed in the United States. Paint horses are characterized by a spotting pattern of white hair over unpigmented skin combined with some other color.

Appaloosas The Appaloosa has one of several distinct patterns of spots. The early Appaloosas were thought to be sturdy, sure-footed, and fast.

United States Equine Industry Florida/Texas Kentucky Louisiana New York Maryland

Interesting Facts A horse is considered an adult at age four. A female horse over 4 years old is called a mare. A male horse over 4 years old is called a stallion. Horses are measured in hands, a hand is four inches. A horse is generally over 14.2 hh (hands high). Anything under 14.2 hh is a pony. There are over 200 breeds of horses in the world.

Assessment What is the horse industries value in Georgia? What is the estimated amount of horses in Georgia? Name the five horse breeds that are predominate in Georgia. What two states are number one in the amount of money that is generated from horses? How old does a horse have to be before it is considered an adult?

Answers $300 million 230,000 horses Quarter Horses, Tennessee Walkers, Paints, American Saddles, Appaloosas. Texas/Florida 4