Facts and Figures

• 2.8 million people in Britain have ridden in the past year*
• the value of the industry has been estimated at £3.4 billion †
  
• it employs up to 250,000 people directly and indirectly †
• 25% of households have some interest in the horse industry *
• the horse population totals over one million with 721,500 households with responsibility for the daily upkeep of a horse - this is an increase of 20% on 1999 figures.*
• The horseracing and betting industry support some 60,000 jobs, including the equivalent of 1 in 8 agricultural workers ‡
• Over 6m people went racing in 2004 ‡
• At Tattersalls, the UK's biggest thoroughbred auction house, 4737 horses were sold in 2005 for a total of £185,516,800 (1 guinea = £1.05)
• Affilliated sport is also booming, in particular dressage. Between 1999 and 2005, in just six years British Dressage has had to double their number of competition days, and their membership has soared by over 50% in that time to 11,521 members.

* BETA 2006 research
† The Henley centre report of research on the horse industry in Great Britain 2003. This 107 page report commissioned by DEFRA and the BHIC aimed to establish a base-line for the industry and a sizing of the industry given available data sources. It also investigated predominant strategic issues for the industry over the next ten years which were crucial in the first stages of drawing up the Horse Industry Strategy and Action Plan (PDF, 1MB). You may also view the press release.
‡ BHB data

Download the full Henley Report (PDF, 0.8MB)

Download the Deloitte BHB Economic impact study of British Racing (PDF)