Equine industry

The Business & Industry Guides series is produced by the Library & Information Service for ICAEW members and ACA students.

We can compile tailored key players reports, mailing lists, market reports, benchmarking reports and industry news. Our enquiry team can also research other industry-specific information, such as taxation, for you. Call us on +44 (0)20 7920 8620 or email library@icaew.com.

Some free information is available from the following market research specialists, ranging from industry news to executive summaries of the reports.

IBISWorld
Business and industry research specialists offering reports on a wide range of sectors including horse and equine production in the US. Report snapshots, table of contents and a sample report are available.

Need to find the latest news on this industry sector? We can carry out industry news searches using a range of trade titles and general business sources through our databases. To discuss your requirements, please contact the enquiry team on +44 (0)20 7920 8620 or at library@icaew.com.

British Equestrian

British Equestrian has published State of the Nation Report 2023 which contains an overview of the equestrian industry in the UK. It includes data from a number of surveys on areas such as industry value, equestrian activity and number of riding establishments.

Office for National Statistics

The Annual Business Survey (ABS) from the Office for National Statistics collects financial information covering UK production, construction, distribution and service industries. Statistics available include:

• number of enterprises;
• total turnover;
• approximate gross value added at basic prices;
• total purchases of goods, materials and services;
• total employment costs;
• total net capital expenditure;
• total net capital expenditure – acquisitions;
• total net capital expenditure – disposals;
• total stocks and work in progress – value at end of year;
• total stocks and work in progress – value at beginning of year;
• total stocks and work in progress – increase during year.

The dataset Non-financial business economy, UK: Sections A to S includes statistics for:

• Sports and recreation education (85.51)
  See Section P: Education

UK

The Office for National Statistics publication Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) includes average employment costs within this sector which can be found in Table 14. Average employment costs are provided for full-time employees, part-time employees and all employees.

The data includes average employment costs for:

• managers in animal husbandry, forestry and fishing;
• animal care occupations;
• veterinarians;
• veterinary services.

The annual Business Register and Employment Survey (BRES), published by the Office for National Statistics, includes total employee and employment estimates for different industries for Great Britain and the UK. Figures are broken down to show full-time/part-time and public/private splits. The dataset Industry – Business Register and Employment Survey (BRES): Table 2 includes statistics for:

• Raising of horses and other equines (01430)
• Sports and recreation education (85510)

Other regions

Please see individual country profile pages for links to sources of national statistics.

UK

GOV.UK provides some guidance on the main legislation applicable to various sectors, including keeping horses commercially.

Export horses and ponies: special rules
Guidance published by GOV.UK on exporting horses and other equines (including ponies and donkeys) from the UK

Getting and using a horse passport
Guidance published by GOV.UK on importing or exporting horses and other equines and obtaining a horse passport.

The British Horse Society offers free leaflets and downloadable resources.

Trade Tariff

The Trade Tariff is a useful Gov.uk database listing tax, duties and licenses for the import and export of goods between the UK and other countries. The database is searchable by product or commodity code and results can be filtered by date and country. Information also includes links to relevant conditions and regulations.

See import and export information for:

• live horses, asses, mules and hinnies
• prepared animal fodder
• saddlery and harness for any animal
• walking sticks, seat-sticks, whips, riding-crops and the like.

The Library can supply business guides on this sector to ICAEW members and students.

Trade journals, B2B magazines and specialist consumer magazines are another useful source of news and statistics.

• Equestrian Life
• Forge and Farrier
• Horse and Hound

The websites of trade bodies in this sector are a useful source of industry overviews, contacts and statistics.

UK

• British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA)
• British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA)
• British Horseracing Authority
• British Horse Society
• Farriers Registration Council
• Federation of Bloodstock Agents
• Thoroughbred Breeders' Association
• British Farriers and Blacksmiths Association
• Racecourse Association (RCA)
• Society of Master Saddlers

Europe

• European Equestrian Federation (EEF)
• European Federation of Thoroughbred Breeders' Associations (EFTBA)

Americas

• American Horse Council

Asia

• Asian Racing Federation
• China Horse Industry Association (CHIA)

Oceania

• Australian Farriers and Blacksmiths Association (AFBA)
• Australian Horse Industry Council (AHIC)
• New Zealand Farriers Association (NZFA)

Global

• Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI)
• International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA)
• World Equine Veterinary Association (WEVA)

The FEI produces a directory of national federations and groups for equestrian sport.

The IFHA has a list of links to member bodies.

WEVA provides links to its member associations, listing major equine veterinarian bodies internationally.