Early Evidence of the Economic Effects of COVID-19 on the Horse Show Industry in 2020.
Authors: Huseman Chelsie, Walker Neely, McCorkle Dean A, Hanselka Daniel, Cater Melissa, Zoller Jennifer
Journal: Journal of equine veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary: COVID-19's Economic Impact on the Equine Competition Sector During 2020, pandemic-related restrictions forced significant disruption to in-person horse shows across the United States, prompting researchers to quantify the economic consequences for the broader equine industry. A survey of 251 horse show participants (predominantly female, 95.6%) revealed that whilst competitors had planned to attend an average of 9.7 shows annually, COVID-19 restrictions prevented attendance at 4.17 of these events, with typical per-show expenditure averaging £730 (approximately $991 USD). Using these data and input-output economic modelling, researchers estimated that reduced show attendance translated into direct spending losses of $3.23 billion, with broader economic ripple effects reducing total economic activity by $7.2 billion, diminishing GDP contribution by $3.95 billion, and eliminating roughly 50,000 jobs within the competition sector. For equine professionals across veterinary, farrier, physiotherapy and coaching disciplines, these figures underscore the precarious economic foundation upon which many supplementary services depend—a reality that likely persisted beyond 2020 and warrants consideration when planning service delivery and pricing strategies for an industry still recovering from pandemic disruption.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Economic disruptions in the horse show industry from pandemic restrictions had cascading effects across related sectors including veterinary services, farrier work, and equine businesses.
- •Horse show cancellations represent significant financial exposure for equine professionals who depend on show-related revenue streams.
- •Understanding industry-wide economic impacts helps equine professionals anticipate business volatility and plan contingency strategies for future disruptions.
Key Findings
- •Survey respondents (95.6% female) planned to attend an average of 9.7 in-person horse shows in 2020 but were unable to attend 4.17 shows due to COVID-19 restrictions.
- •Average spending per show was $991, translating to $9,609 annually per participant, with reduced attendance resulting in estimated direct economic losses of $3.23 billion.
- •Using IMPLAN input-output modeling, total economic impact of reduced in-person horse showing was estimated at $7.2 billion in reduced expenditures, approximately 50,000 lost jobs, and $3.95 billion reduction in GDP contribution.