Some interesting facts from
the "Old Dominion" (the state, mind you -- not the endurance
ride!) as delivered in the newly released Virginia 2001 Equine Survey
Report (based upon last year's census survey of all horse owners
in Virginia), complied for the VA Dept of Agricultural & Consumer
Services .
In 2001, there were 170,000
horses, ponies and mules in Virginia located on 29,000 equine
operations ... [making] the Commonwealth [of Virginia] the 5th
largest equine State, surpassed only by Texas, California, Missouri, and
Tennessee.The
total value of all equine was $1.46 billion or an average value of $8,599 per
equine. The
Northern and Central Districts accounted for nearly 77% of the total value of
all equine while 74% of all equine located in the Northern, Central and Southwestern
districts.
The top 5 breeds in terms of
inventory were Thoroughbreds (36,300), Quarter Horses (32,500), Arabians
(12,000), Ponies (10,500), and Tennessee Walkers (9,700). "Other Equine"
(warmbloods, cross-breeds, Standardbreds, and draft) accounted for
31,600, coming in third in relation to numbers (not breeds) counted.
In the Northern district
Thoroughbreds far exceeded the other breeds with 21,600 inventoried, and
comprised over 58% of the value (by Breed) at $778 million. "Other Equine" was
second with 11,200 counted (27.4% at $400 million). Quarter Horses came
in third at 8,300 (9% at $132 million), but represented the highest counted
single breed in all the rest of the 7 districts, excluding Central where they
were second to Thoroughbreds. Arabians (4.1% at $60 million) and Ponies
(3% at $44 million) were strongest in the Northern and Central Districts
at 3,200 counted per district, respectively for Arabians, and 4,200 and 2,800
respectively for Ponies
In the Northern District
(with 60,500 equine counted for total value of $795,090,000) Loudoun County
topped the list at 15,800 equine with a total value of $294,671,000.
Fauquier County (adjacent and just below Loudoun) was second with 13,700
equine valued at $226,083,000. The Central District (37,900 equine
valued at $328,235,000) was next, with the highest count
in Albemarle County (7,000 equine valued at $90,886,000), and
Bedford County (4,600 equine valued at $24,966,000).
The usage was just as
interesting. Across the board Trail riding and pleasure comprised 44.5% as the leading
usage of equine in 2001. Breeding (mares) came in second in usage at 16.1%, and
competition/show
was third at 17.1% Racing/Racing stock came in at 7.4%, right behind
"Other Uses" at 11.9% (driving, business use, lawn ornaments, retirees,
research, etc).
The cost for care was even
more interesting. Think about this when you're slogging out to the stable to
feed those forever hungry critters ... that a total of nearly $505 million was spent
caring for equine, an average of $2,969 per equine and $17,406 per
operation. Equipment purchases was the largest expense item at $60.9
million. Feed and bedding followed at $56 million, and veterinarian/Health
was fourth at $32.7 million, right behind purchases at $50.4
million.
Equine expenses covering
upkeep-related items accounted for 66% of all
expenses. Total purchases and upkeep expenses accounted for
$384,577,000 dollars spent - 76.2% of all expenses. Capital Improvements
and Labor was second at $93 million (18.4%) of total expenses, while Equine
Related Activities was the third highest category at $27 million (5.4%) of
which Travel and lodging comprised $11,417,000.
Equine sold in Virginia
during 2001 represented a total sales value of nearly $99.4 million,
placing
equine as the 7th largest agricultural commodity in Virginia based
on cash receipts.
................
Well, enough statistics for
now. Time to trudge out through the snow to the winter pasture, and
give my ponies some carrots. Let's see... at $2.99 per 5lb bag, divided by
5 ponies, at 2... no, make that 3 carrots per pony......
<putting on muck boots and
heading out door, mentally adding up costs>
