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Summary of Recent Studies
University of Colorado Study - 1982
In 1982 a study conducted at the University of Colorado showed that there
were approximately16,635 horses in Boulder County, with an average value
of $1,791. The horse industry in Boulder County was responsible for an
estimated annual "direct monetary injection" to the Boulder County economy
of $30 million and an annual "indirect economic impact" to the Boulder
County economy of $90 million (from Askew, C., "The Horse Population of
Boulder County, Colorado: Estimates of Numbers and Direct Economic Impact." Dept. or Economics,
Univ. of Colo., Boulder, June 1982, 6p.).
1982 - University of Colorado Study
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# of Horses in Boulder County
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16,635 |
Horse Industry Direct Economic Impact
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$30 Million |
Horse Industry Indirect Economic Impact |
$90 Million |
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USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service
et. al. Study - 1999
In 1999 the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service, in conjunction
with the Colorado Agricultural Statistics Service, the Colorado
Horse Development Authority, the Colorado Horsemen's Council,
and the Colorado State University Extension Service, conducted
a comprehensive survey of the state's horse industry. It found that there
were approximately 145,000 horses in Colorado, of which approximately
8,800 were in Boulder County. Although the number of horses here can thus
be seen to have fallen to half of the horse population less than two decades
earlier, Boulder County still has 6% of the state's horses, and puts us
fourth in total numbers of horses statewide. On average, a horse in Boulder
County is now worth $3,450, and the total value of horses in Boulder County
is estimated at $30.4 million.
>Statewide, the equine industry ranks among the top ten agricultural money makers.
Total annual equine spending is estimated at $300 million, annual equine
income from sales and related equine/agricultural activities is about
$130 million, and the the value of equine-related assets (excluding racetracks
and public facilities, but including land) is estimated at $4.3 billion.
The 1999 study did not do the following calculations, and there is some
potential for error because the value of both horses and property may
be higher here than for similar animals and property elsewhere in the
state, but if one were to extrapolate the statewide economic figures to
Boulder County based on our percentage of the state total number of horses
(6%), annual equine spending here comes to at least $18 million, annual
equine income is at least $7.8 million, and the value of equine-related
assets in Boulder County is at least $258 million.
1999 - USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service et. al., Study
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# of Horses in Boulder County
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8,800 |
% of State's Horses in Boulder County
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6% |
County Rank in number of horses
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4th |
Annual Equine Spending*
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$18 Million |
Annual Equine Income*
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$7.8 Million |
Value of equine-related assets*
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$258 Million |
* Figures extrapolated from the statewide figures, based on
Boulder County's percentage (6%) of total number of horses.
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More Info and Links
Colorado Horse Development Authority - www.chda.org
220 Livestock Exchange Building, 4701 Marion St., Denver, CO 80216
Phone: 303-292-4981
Colorado State Equine Extension Specialist
Colorado State University Cooperative Extension
Department of Animal Sciences
Ft. Collins, CO 80523-1171
Phone: 970-491-6271
Colorado Horse Council - www.cohoco.com
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