The State of California is projected to double in population by 2025, from 25 million to 50 million people. San Mateo County will feel pressure from this rapid growth that could effect equestrian access to open space and trails, more than we are already seeing due to the poor condition of the local economy. In addition, many of our coastside ranches are being sold to POST and will be turned over in the future to public land managers (MROSD, State of Calif, GGNRA, etc). In order to have a place at the table to request new equestrian trails in future open space property acquisitions and to be able to make arguments to preserve existing equestrian trail access, it is imperative to show the economic contribution of the horses in San Mateo County. This has been done in Sonoma and Marin Counties with some surprising results. In Sonoma, horses are second only to viniculture in economic importance to that county. In Marin, horses provide more value than dairy. These studies are provided on the web site below.
This paper will be updated periodically with other anecdotal information or references as we receive them.
Excerpts from Nancy White's e-mail 10/2/01:..."When I was crewing for the Pony Express ride the last week of July (2001) in Nevada, a member of the Chamber of Commerce in Ely came up to the ride manager with this information: In one day, the riders and their support crews added $10,000 dollars in goods and services into their local economy. This included the following purchases; fuel, food, meals at restaurants, feed & hay for horses, services to vehicles and similar purchases. The Chamber really understood the value and the economic impact that this made in one day by having the ride come through their town. This resulted with a open invitation to come back and plan a endurance ride. Since many of the local rancher are part of this particular Chamber, they stated that they would be happy to work with the ride manager to plan a long distant event through their properties."
The Sonoma County economic survey is available on the web but it is difficult to find… try this route:
1. Go to HTTP://www.sonoma.edu/econ/
2. When the page comes up, click on The Economics Department
3. When that page comes up, click on Research & Internship
4. When that page comes up, click on The Economic Impact of Horse Riding in Sonoma County. 1999 survey is being updated in 2003.
The State of Virginia 2001 Equine Survey Report is s available by request from USDA-VASS, P.O. Box 1659, Richmond, VA 23218-1659, phone 804-771-2493.
It's a wonderful AG survey that not only tells about the horses in the state by chart, graph, etc., but also tells of the money we spend on our horses, including tack, utilities, feed and bedding, equipment purchase, travel and lodging, etc., that helps horse folks PROVE their impact to the state's economy.