December, 2025
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impact on our equestrian land- scape and lifestyle.
The Economics Implications of
Horse Land Loss The exact loss is difficult to
track and tally at any specific point in time. We know from first-hand accounts and local reports that we are losing boarding and training facilities,
hayfields, competition venues, horse farms and ranches to sprawl and poorly-planned development. This land loss is a direct threat to the horse indus- try, our history and culture of the horse, all equestrian sports, and the $102 billion economic impact of the horse industry. For the community as a
whole, proximity to green space
improves land values and, there- fore, tax receipts. Conserved agricultural land generates a reliably high benefit. For example, for every one percent increase in conserved agricul- tural lands, studies in Maryland, Colorado, Oregon and Texas revealed that communities expe- rienced revenue increases rang- ing from $250,000 to $500,000. In communities where land
is preserved specifically for horse usage, economic benefits are greater still. In addition to increased property taxes, com- munities experience a range of financial benefits that come along with the horse industry. For instance, in Montgomery County, Maryland, a survey determined that their 783 horse farms, mostly of modest size, generated nearly $90 million in economic activity, with the average farm infusing more than $84,000 into the local econo- my. In Aiken, South Carolina, a 2007 study revealed that the horse industry was the commu- nity’s largest and most reliable economic driver. Moreover, both communities determined that the horse industry was an important lifestyle con- sideration to equestrians and non-equestrians alike in choos- ing to live in the region. The visual impact of lands conserved for horses cannot be strictly valued in dollars. Community aſter community has made protection of land for horses a priority, because they place a high value on the aesthetics of that land – they value the views, the lifestyle and the community identity provided by horse lands. And when that community identity is visible enough, it encourages tourism.
Conservation pressures often mean that land previously dedicated to horse usage is rezoned for development.
The Value of Eco-Services on
Horse Land The roles that horse proper- ties play in preserving the envi- ronment, in providing ecosys- tems services, and as a partner in broader conservation efforts are oſten overlooked. Horse lands play an important
role in wildlife conservation corridors. Land zoned for horse properties adjoining parks and other protected lands can pro- vide an additional protective buffer for the wildlife sheltered in these parks. Buffer zones can also help minimize the impact of development and transportation routes on wildlife, and extend their habitat. Horse pastures and hayfields
provide important stormwater filtration and absorption. Hay and pasture grasses absorb
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