Horse industry leaders met with United States Department of Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman during the National Issues Forum of the American Horse Council (AHC) in Washington, D.C., April 20. The meeting provided an opportunity to explain the economic importance of the horse industry; how the equine industry is participating in the Department’s important initiative to develop a national identification system for livestock; the industry’s efforts to make horses eligible for federal disaster relief; and the importance of the USDA’s upcoming meetings with the country’s European Union (EU) trading partners.

Jay Hickey, President of the AHC, gave Secretary Veneman an overview of the economic size and importance of the horse industry in the United States, noting it involves 6.9 million horses, 7 million Americans, has an economic effect of $112 billion, supports 1.4 million jobs and pays over $2 billion in taxes at various levels. He also pointed out that the median income of horse-owning families is $60,000, illustrating that the backbone of the industry is average Americans.

National Animal Identification Plan
A principal topic of discussion was the Department’s efforts to institute a national animal identification system for livestock in case of a major disease outbreak. Several members of the AHC Task Force on Equine Identification were present and updated Secretary Veneman on the horse industry’s involvement.

Dan Fick, of The Jockey Club and chair of the task force, explained that the horse industry had held several meetings and saw benefits to a national identification system involving the horse industry, but noted that there were still many critical issues to be considered and resolved