AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2022 THE RIDER /13 Equestrian Canada Launches National Economic Impact Study


Ottawa, ON, July 18, 2022 – Equestrian Canada (EC) is pleased to announce the re- launch of the National Economic Impact Study.


EC will consult with Wilton Consult-


ing Group (WCG) and Serecon throughout the re-launching of the project that is funded by Sport Canada, to conduct an environ- mental scan, key informant interviews, a na- tional online survey and construct an input and output model to perform analysis.


The goals of the project are: • To increase the understanding of the cur- rent state of the sector, including the topics of inclusion, diversity, equity and accessi- bility; • To identify and articulate the economic and social impacts of sport and recreational participation and performance pathways within the sector; • To develop strategic recommendations to ensure the sustainability and inclusivity of the sector. The previous study that was pub-


lished in March of 2011, which can be found here, covered Horses in Canada in 2010, cost of ownership, economic contri- bution from horses and industry trends from 1998 though 2010. “We are pleased to collaborate with


Equestrian Canada again to support the country’s equestrian sport and recreation sector,” says Dr. Bronwynne Wilton, the Principal and Lead Consultant at Wilton Consulting Group. “The Measuring Impact study will build on the Response to COVID-19 for Canada’s Active Equines Summary Report, which underscored that ‘active equines are a viable component of Canada’s agricultural system.’ Through the new project, Equestrian Canada will gain a more fulsome picture of the economic and social impacts of the sector.” The timeline of the final report,


which will be reviewed by 15 people in an advisory group, is scheduled to be submit- ted in March 2023. This will give an overview of the evolution and current state of the Canadian Equestrian sport and recre- ation sector, highlight the economic and so- cial


impacts of the sector, outline


challenges, opportunities and recommenda- tions to consider. “Our team will consider the wide va-


riety of equestrian sport and recreation ac- tivities across Canada to accurately assess the total contribution of the equine industry to Canada’s economy,” says Bob Burden, a Senior Director with Serecon. In addition to the study, Canadian


MBA student Caleigh Rutledge is currently conducting research into the Future of Equestrian Small and Medium Enterprise Profitability through a survey as part of her thesis and will be providing her report back to EC. We encourage all small and medium size equestrian business owners to provide information into the research being con- ducted to allow our sector to be as well in- formed and knowledgeable as possible.


About Equestrian Canada Equestrian Canada (EC) is the na-


tional governing body for equestrian sport and industry in Canada, with a mandate to represent, promote and advance all equine and equestrian interests. With over 15,000 sport licence holders, 11 provincial/territo- rial sport organization partners and 10+ na- tional equine affiliate organizations, EC is a significant contributor to the social, phys- ical, emotional, and economic wellbeing of the equestrian industry across Canada.


About Wilton Consulting Group Wilton Consulting Group (WCG) is


based in Fergus, ON, and focuses on facili- tating sustainability and innovation in agri- food and rural systems through a change management approach. WCG offers a spe- cialized agri-food sector research consulting service with deep connections across the Canadian industry. WCG’s research strengths draw upon a wide range of quali-


tative and quantitative methods and ap- proaches. WCG collaborated with EC on its 2020 Response to COVID-19 for Canada’s Active Equines Summary Report. WCG has also supported such national clients as the Canadian Federation of Canada, Farm Man- agement Canada, and Agriculture and Agri- Food Canada.


About Serecon Serecon provides objective value-


added services to the agriculture and food sectors through asset and business valua- tion; management consulting services; and advisory services. Serecon has ample expe- rience developing economic impact models for various sectors across Canada including


equestrian, agricultural research, and pri- mary agriculture production projects. These models use expenditure or income indica- tors along with economic multipliers to measure economic activity within a specific region. Serecon’s main offices are in Alberta and the firm also has branches in British Co- lumbia, Saskatchewan, and Ontario. Serecon has worked with equestrian


organizations to help them better understand their members’ contributions to their re- gional economies. Serecon has also collab- orated with such clients as Alberta Beef Producers, Egg Farmers of Canada, and the Canadian Pork Council.


Photo Credit: Heyzeus Escribo


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