NORWICH – Even while several local agricultural industries deal with ongoing challenges, new studies indicate that the equine industry – including racing, recreational horse ownership and horse showing – has had a growing beneficial impact on the economy in recent years.

According to survey results from the New York State Equine Industry Economic Impact Study, the horse industry has become a $4.2 billion per year industry in New York, employing approximately 33,000 full-time jobs statewide in the areas of horse breeding, boarding and the state’s growing horse racing business. The horse racing industry alone yields 80 full-time jobs per 100 horses, and brings in more than $187 million in state and local taxes, the study reports. In addition, the recreational equine industry produces more than 15,000 total direct and indirect jobs in the state, with an economic impact nearing $2.1 billion annually.

The new study’s results aren’t suprising to local agriculturalists like equine farmer Debbie Brown-Moon, owner and operator of Hidden Ponds Stables in Norwich. Hidden Ponds is a full service boarding and training facility that stables 40 horses, 15 of which are boarded. Every horse helps to create a job, whether directly or indirectly, the study says and Brown-Moon agreed. Costs to keep the animals range in the thousands of dollars per month, she explained; and although Hidden Ponds doesn’t employ anyone directly, she is one of thousands of recreational equine farmers with a stable that helps to produce more than 5,000 indirect jobs statewide, as seen in the equine impact study.