Horses'roles are diverse

THE NUMBER of horses used primarily for recreational purposes is the largest segment of the horse population, according to the American Horse Council's Economic Impact of the Horse Industry on the United States.

Used for recreation, there are 1.4 million quarter horses; 228,290 thoroughbreds; and 2.3 million horses listed as "other breeds." The resulting effect on the Gross Domestic Product for the recreation industry is equally impressive at $32 million.

Jobs associated with recreational horses are, 37,437 for quarter horses; 10,121 for thoroughbreds; and 80,766 for "others."

The comprehensive study also analyzes the racing and showing industries separately, as well as breaking down all of these numbers by state for the 15 states that participated in the breakdown studies. The national and state studies are available for purchase from the American Horse Council at 202/296-4031 or horsecouncil.org.

Calendar

June 2: NHS Gaited Horse show; Fox Chase; Oak View. June 2-3: Deep Run Spring show; House Mountain; Maryland Special Olympics and Challenged Rider Show. June 3: Lake of the Woods; Silver Star Hunter Clinic; Old Dominion Morgan Horse Assoc. Open Fun show at Rose Mount Hollow Oaks; ESF Horse Show; Prince William Horse Assoc. show; CDCTA Dressage at Warrenton. June 4-10: Upperville Colt and Horse show. June 8-10: VQHA Southern States Showdown, VHC; VAHA Annual Horse show and Futurity. June 9: Nokesville Horse Park show. June 9-10: VADA/NOVA Dressage, Leesburg; Rubicon Horse Trials, Morven Park. June 10: Hazelwild; Carter Oaks. June 12: Woodpecker Evening show; Oakland Heights. June 13: Hazelwild Jumper show; Touch Point hunter show; VADA/NOVA Summer Breed show I, Morven Park. June 13-17: Keswick June 15-17: Paso Fino Show, VHC June 16: Whitestone Farm hunter show (first show of the season); Oak Hill; Aquia Harbour All Discipline Fun Show; Stillmeadows; Frying Pan Park hunter show; Va. Miniature Horse Club Summer Show. June 16-17: POA show, Roanoke June 17: EKG Stables hunter show; Amber Hill; Touch Point VADAF; VADACC Dressage at Aria Farm; Kelly's Ford; PWHA Western show.

Betsy Carter can be reached at The Free Lance-Star, 616 Amelia Street, Fredericksburg, Va. 22401 or by fax at 540/373-8455.

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