Equine Canada has released the results of the 2010 Canadian Equine Industry Profile Study, billed as the "largest equine industry participant survey sample ever completed in Canada" by the organization’s website.

Some highlights, as reported by Equine Canada, include:

• The Canadian equine industry contributes more than $19 billion annually to the national economy and supports more than 154,000 jobs in Canada (one full-time job for every 6.25 horses);
• There were an estimated 963,500 horses in Canada in the summer 2010, living on 145,000 properties;
• About 855,000 Canadians were active in the horse industry last year;
• About 24% of horse owners are in the 60+ age group;
• Horse-keeping costs have jumped 70% since a 2003 survey of a similar nature; and
• Sale prices for horses have dipped 49% from 2008/09.

Other interesting findings include:

• Thirty-four percent of Canada’s horses reside in Alberta and 21% reside in Ontario, while New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island each are home to 1% or less of the equine population;
• An estimated 219,884 of Canada’s total equine population (22%) is classified as "Young Horses Not Yet in Use." About 175,000 mature horses are used in sports (other than racing), 172,000 are used for pleasure riding, and 176,000 are used as breeding stock; and
• Eighty-five percent of respondents indicated that they own one or more registered horses with 74% of those horses being registered with a pedigree-based association.

Copies of the complete study are available online or printed copies can be purchased by contacting Equine Canada at 1-866-282-8395