The Big One

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I just returned from the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) convention, which is held once a year in the United States. This year, it was at the Gaylord Hotel in Orlando, Florida.

This is the largest horse breed convention in the world, and each year the directors meet to conduct annual business.

As you would anticipate, even the big ones like the Quarter Horse industry has experienced challenging times in the past year. There have been a decreased number of horses that has been transferred from one owner to another, and a major decrease in the number of foal registrations. This ultimately resulted in decreased income for the association. Because this was no surprise to the AQHA, they began tightening their belt at least a year or two ago and have cut expenses tremendously.

In 2002, the AQHA registered approximately 165,000 foals, which is more than any other breed in the United States. However, in 2010, the anticipated foal registration is less than 100,000. This represents a 58% decrease in the number of foals registered in 2002.

This is a trend that has also been visible in other breeds in the past decade. One interesting statistic the AQHA presented is the demand for racehorses and show horses within the breed continues to remain steady. However, the major problem is the large number of horses available. With the demand remaining fairly steady, it is certain that there will be a greater demand for racehorses and show horses in the coming years resulting in a larger number of mares needing to be bred. The smart thing to do would be to begin breeding mares this year in anticipation of the shortage in demand in the coming year.

However, in the short-term, there is a decreased demand for veterinary services and all other ancillary services that go into the horse industry. Personally, I look forward to seeing a rebound in the horse industry and hopefully one that will match the growth in the early 2000s.