While private funding for a new national survey of the horse industry is being sought, American Horse Council staffers recently told Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman there are 6.9 million horses in this country.

AHC President Jay Hickey says 7 million Americans are involved to some extent with horses, 1.9 million own horses, the equine industry supports 1.4 million jobs, pays over $2 billion in annual taxes at various levels and has a $112 billion economic impact on the nation’s economy. The median income of horse-owning families is $60,000, illustrating that the backbone of the industry is middle-class Americans.

OTHER INDUSTRY NEWS...

• After overcoming governmental approval problems, a limited quantity of Mersol, also known as tincture of merthiolate, is now manufactured each spring, says Marge Jensen of  M.J. Distributors in Hartland, Wis. Available through farrier supply shops, she says this original formula has proven effective in treating white line disease.
• Celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2004 is The Victory Racing Plate Co. of Baltimore, Md. After observing in the mid 1920s that several horses at American tracks were shod with a quick-to-disintegrate aluminum racing plate from England, company founder Leonard Liepman and the Aluminum Company of American conducted extensive experiments to determine the proper aluminum alloy for use in Victory racing plates.
• For farriers who are tired of answering calls while on the road, setting up appointments, calling customers to remind them of appointments, to tell them you’ll be delayed or handling phone duties while attending clinics or on vacation…