2.  Contribute to economic growth  Provide people with physical exercise  Provide a release of tensions  Responsibility  Family activities (shows, pleasure)  Competition (rodeos, racing, etc.)  Work (ranch, farm, hunting, etc.)  Fun/pleasure

3.  75% are owned for personal pleasure  25% are for ranching, racing, breeding, and commercial riding

4.  Breeding- breed mares and sell offspring  Training- Train horses for show, competition, or racing  Boarding stables- Facilities for keeping horses (feed and care)

5.  There are over ten million horses in the United states  Over 16 billion dollars spent in the horse industry annually  Horse racing is the biggest spectator sport in the United States

6.  pleasure  breeding  working stock  show  sport

7.  Breeders  most reliable  more expensive  certified quality  Private owners  good or bad, depending on the reason they are selling the horse  chance to get to know horse and owner  their guarentee may only be as good as their word

8.  Auctions  Less reliable  Hard to know soundness  Who knows why it’s there  Private horse sales a little more reliable

9.  Find out horses history, pedigree if possible  Find out how well it is broke and who broke it, if possible  Age  Does it have any problems or a history of problems (lameness, bucking, disease, etc.)  Is it desirable in appearance

10.  Watch it walk and check for soundness in legs  Ride horse (you may want to have the owner ride it first)  Check for bridle control, stops, athletic ability, other qualities that you desire

11.  Younger horses usually need more training and a more experienced rider  Older horses are usually calmer, well broke, and less experienced riders are needed  Prime of life is 5-12 years old  Many NFR roping horses are near or in their twenties

12.  Mares  Tend to be moody or flighty, especially when in heat and in presence of other mares  Geldings  More dependable and steady  Stallions  Hard to manage, especially in presence of a mare in heat

13.  Pick a breed that will satisfy your needs  Quarterhorses- rodeo, stock, racing  Thoroughbred- racing  Arabians- endurance  Paints- color, show

14.  A hand is 4 inches  Measured from ground to top of withers  14-2 hands = 58 inches  Ponies are anything under 14-2 hands  Horses are anything at or over 14-2 hands

15.  Every breed has it’s own association.  Largest ones are  AQHA  Jockey Club (Thoroughbred Registration)  APHA  Tennessee Walking Horse Association

16.  Until recently the U.S. had a slaughter industry.  Horse meat popular in many European countries  Last year horse slaughter was outlawed in U.S.  Now must have a vet euthanize horses with a shot.  Now many unwanted horses are being shipped to Mexico to be overworked or slaughtered in often cruel conditions.  Several groups working to now outlaw exporting horses.

17.  What will we do with our old and unwanted horses?

18.  From the 1890s to 1915, before the mechanization of agriculture began  Demand and use was driven by an expanding country and a growing economy  Many associated industries like harness makers, saddle makers, carriage makers, wagon factories, wheelwrights, farriers and blacksmiths

19.  In 1908 Henry Ford started producing a car that more people could afford.  Trucks, tractors and improved roads soon followed.  As automobile, truck and tractor numbers increased, horse numbers declined.  By 1954 there were more tractors on farms than horses for the first time. USDA photo by John Vachon in 1941.

20.  Recreation and organized competition  Many breeds  Selective breeding to improve quality  Major industry combining business, sport and recreation Photo by Dr. Rick Parker is used by permission.

21.  Spanish conquistadors in the early 1500s, used horses in exploration and colonization.  Colonists brought more horses.  Cites and towns had hitching posts, mounting blocks, water troughs, stables and carriage houses.  In the 1800s the horse was central to city and rural life.

22.  Draft horses powered mass transit systems.  By 1886, over 100,000 horses and mules on 500 street railways in 300 U.S. cities  Draft horses hauled cargo.  Businesses used brightly painted delivery wagons  Horses pulled fire pumpers and ladder trucks. USDA photo by G. W. Ackerman in 1939.

23.  In the 1800s, travel by horseback or horse- drawn vehicles  Better roads meant lighter wagons, carriages and shays.  Stagecoaches with 4-6 horses on regular routes  The pony express carried mail for 18 months.  Draft horse crosses and mules for railroad construction  Horses plowed fields and pulled wagons and carriages in rural America.

24. 1700s and early 1800s  1700s and early 1800s – oxen were preferred draft animal  Cheaper, less feed, and could be eaten  Oxen were slow  No longer suitable with better designs in farm equipment  1830: 250-300 hours of labor to produce 100 bushels of wheat on 5 acres using a walking plow and brush harrow with oxen, hand broadcasting of the seed, and harvesting with a sickle and flail 19th Century  Draft horse became principal work animal  Better technology  Western expansion  Growth of cities  1890: 40-50 hours of labor to produce 100 bushels of wheat on 5 acres using a gang plow, seeder, harrow, binder, thresher, wagons and horses.

25.  Ponies (Shetlands) and mules used in mines  Cowboys in cattle drives  Rodeos and Wild West shows  Organized racing and betting  Horses in military cavalry units  Mules for transport in U.S. army

26.  Motion pictures  Television  Circuses  Parades Photo by Dr. Rick Parker is used by permission.

27.  Late 1830s – draft horses imported from Europe.  After WW I, registered draft horses declined from 95,000 in 1920 to under 2,000 in 1945.  Draft horses now used for parades, show hitches, living history demonstrations

28.  U.S. horse industry contributes about $16 billion annually to the economy  Direct revenue: horse sales, breeding, races, shows, rodeos and entertainment  Indirect revenue: feed, training, veterinary and farrier services, transportation, labor and equipment

29.  Horse sports: 110 million spectators/year  Race track attendance: exceeds 70 million/year  Races at small race tracks, county fairs and more  Three most famous U.S. races:  Kentucky Derby  Preakness  Belmont Stakes. USDA photo by Bill Tarpenning.

30.  U.S. annually has 800 rodeos with over 2,200 performances.  Horse shows have increased in size and number in the last 20 to 30 years.  More than 27 million people ride horses each year.  Horseback riding is the third most popular activity in national forests  Horse projects are popular 4-H and FFA projects.  Horses are 4 th most popular family pet.

31.  Forest Service  Packing and travel in remote areas  Mounted patrols in crowds and riots Staff photo by Nancy Crombie.

32.  Horses are becoming more important in recreation and sports.  National Horse Show began in 1883 and is held annually in Madison Square Garden in New York City.  Many horse shows and equine around the U.S. each year  Great variety of equestrian activities  Horse riding a popular sport growing among all ages

33.  Growing membership in equine organizations  Breed magazines and newsletters  Organizations for many equestrian activities  Books, videos and web pages about horses  Catalogs and stores selling tack, equipment and apparel  Horses primarily used for recreation  Promising future for the horse in the U.S.

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