Horses in Alabama
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Trail RidersHorses were essential to the early settlement of Alabama providing labor, transportation, and food for people, and horses continue to play an important role in the state's social
life and economy. It is estimated that approximately 5 percent of Alabama households have some connection to horses and that
there are more than 186,000 equines (horses, donkeys, and mules) in the state. The rapidly growing horse industry currently
contributes many millions of dollars to state and local governments. The Racking Horse, a gaited pleasure horse, is Alabama's
official state horse.
Breeds
The first horses in Alabama were brought in by European explorers and white settlers and were probably as diverse as their owners' origins. Over time, equine numbers in Alabama grew as horses
were used for work, transportation, and entertainment in the state. Horse racing flourished in the nineteenth century around
Huntsville and at the state fairs in Birmingham. After World War I, horses and mules gradually declined in numbers as mechanization took hold. The horse industry reached a low point in the
1950s, and there were only 3 million horses in the United States in 1960. Today, increased leisure time and expendable income
and the need for healthy activities for young people have swelled the U.S. horse population to approximately 9.2 million.
Alabama's equine population has mirrored this national decline and rebound. Because Alabama traditionally was an agricultural state with large landholdings, easy-gaited riding horses historically have been popular breeds in the state. More recently,
the nationwide popularity of the American Quarter Horse has propelled this breed into the lead in terms of horse numbers in
the state, with more than 49,000 
McCurdy Plantation HorseQuarter Horses registered to Alabama owners. Quarter Horses are used as show horses, ranch horses, pleasure mounts, and short-distance
race horses. Other popular breeds in Alabama are the smooth-gaited Tennessee Walking Horse and the Racking Horse. These breeds
are the traditional plantation horses and today are popular as show horses, trail and pleasure horses, and field trial mounts
throughout the state. Alabama is home to practically every American breed of riding horse, as well as many breeds developed
in other countries. Alabama also is enjoying a resurgence of draft horse breeds and mules, which are used to pull wagons and
perform at fairs and agricultural activities throughout the state. Alabamians were instrumental in the formation of two horse
breeds. The McCurdy Plantation Horse was developed in Lowndes County in west-central Alabama from Tennessee Walking Horse stock, and in 1971, Alabama horsemen were influential in the formation
of the Racking Horse Breeders' Association of America, headquartered in Decatur, in Morgan County.
Organizations and Associations
Alabama horse owners, riders, enthusiasts, and breeders come together in a wide variety of equine organizations categorized
by breed, activity, or locality. The Alabama Open Horseman Association, an organization that represents Western, English,
and gaited-horse riding disciplines, is an association of grassroots horse clubs formed in 1988. It is the largest horse show
organization in Alabama, with 16 affiliated associations hosting 256 shows in the state. 
Show JumpingIts activities cumulate in the State Championship Horse Show, held in Montgomery each year over Labor Day weekend, at which State Champion horses are chosen. There are additional large and small horse clubs
in the state affiliated with various breed organizations, such as the Alabama Quarter Horse Association, or with specific
horse activities, such as the Montgomery Area Dressage and Combined Training Association, the Alabama Trail Ride Association,
and 4-H Horse Clubs. The Alabama Horse Council was a trade association formed in 1995 to impartially represent all segments
of Alabama's horse industry by promoting fair legislation affecting horse use, improving state equestrian facilities, increasing
public understanding of horses, and enhancing the contribution of horses to the quality of life. The Alabama Horse Council
provides educational services to horse owners in the state, hosts the annual Alabama Horse Fair in Montgomery and subsidizes
many equine educational activities in the state. In 2007, in response to the increasing interest in horses in Alabama and
the contribution of horses to the agricultural economy of the state, the Alabama Farmers Federation formed a horse commodity
group.
Activities
Alabama horse enthusiasts participate in a wide range of activities. Trail riding is the most popular recreational use for
horses in the state, and all breeds of horses can participate in this activity. Horse shows, both those for a specific breed
or specialized activity and those that are open to any horse and rider, occur throughout the year in Alabama. In addition,
nearly 90 rodeos are held in 
Reiningthe state. Riders in Western disciplines compete in barrel racing, reining, cutting, team penning, and other events. In the
English discipline, the traditional Olympic equestrian activities of show jumping, dressage, and three-day eventing, in addition
to hunt-seat and equitation competitions, are gaining in popularity in the state. Traditionally, Thoroughbreds, Thoroughbred
crosses, and several European breeds known collectively as warmbloods, are used for these activities. Throughout the state,
there are numerous chances to participate in less widespread horse activities such as polo, parades, field trials for hunting
dogs, and foxhunting.
Horses play a role in college athletics at several Alabama colleges at both the varsity and club levels. Founded in 1995,
Auburn University's varsity equestrian team captured the 2011 overall (combined hunt seat and western riding) Varsity Equestrian Championships
national championship and Varsity Equestrian National Championships in hunt seat. Judson College in Marion (west-central Alabama) also hosts an equestrian team that competes in the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association as a club
team. A number of horse enthusiasts have established facilities or volunteer their time to assist with therapeutic riding
activities for physically, mentally or emotionally challenged riders. The Marion Green-Henry Special Equestrian Program at
the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind in Talladega, is one of the largest therapeutic riding programs in the world. Additionally, horses still are used as working animals in
many parts of the state. Horses pull logs out of environmentally sensitive areas where vehicles cannot go, they serve as police
mounts and carriage horses, and they are used in ranch work in the state.
Economic Impact
Horses contribute greatly to Alabama's economy. The largest expenditure by Alabama horse owners is for the care and maintenance
of their animals. Feed and hay, grooming equipment, veterinary fees, health supplies, hoof care, tack and apparel for both
horse and rider, training and breeding fees, property taxes, and facilities maintenance and repairs are just a few of the
expenses associated with horse care. Alabama horse owners with expensive, elite show animals spend a median estimate of $69,080
yearly per horse. The vast majority of horse owners (some 90 percent) carry out much of the care and maintenance for their
horses themselves, but they still spend a median amount of $8,705.00 per horse per year. In all, horse care in Alabama accounts
for a total of $2.3 billion in spending annually.
Horse-related activities in Alabama represent a large contribution to local and the state economies as well. Each of the four
major shows in the state bring in more than $1 million to the local area in which the show is held. The Alabama Open Horseman's
Association State 
AOHA Halter Winner Championships and the State 4-H Horse Championships, both held in Montgomery, for instance, add more than $1 million each
to the Montgomery area. Horse owners and spectators who participate in the 256 open horse shows held throughout the state
and sanctioned by the Alabama Open Horseman Association have a direct impact of some $1.5 million. The Racking Horse World
Celebration, held in Priceville near Decatur in north Alabama, adds $2.7 million to that local economy. Ten other individual
shows or series of shows or rodeos in the state, sanctioned by various horse associations, provide between $100,000 and $999,999,
with an average of $298,532.20) in additional spending in those areas. The total contribution of horse shows and activities
to the state's economy is approximately $29.4 million each year.
The horse industry in Alabama is rapidly emerging as a major agricultural industry. Horse-related activities and tourism create
a demand for services, clothing, equipment, supplies, and production of horses. Small businesses and farm enterprises within
the state provide the majority of the goods and services used by the Alabama horse industry, and many youth employment opportunities
are created by the horse industry. The wide variety of horse breeds, activities, events, and opportunities in the industry
appeals to many people. The related effects on land use are substantial to all Alabamians, providing green spaces and pastoral
scenes that are pleasing to all.
Additional Resources
Deloitte Touche, LLP. "The Economic Impact of the Horse Industry on the United States." Wilton, Conn.: American Horse Council
Foundation, 2005.
Whiting, K., J. J. Molnar, and C. A. McCall. "Alabama Equine Industry: Inventory, Impacts, and Prospects." Auburn, Ala.: Alabama
Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin 662, 2006; http://www.ag.auburn.edu/aaes/communications/bulletins/bull662.pdf
Cynthia A. McCall
Auburn University
Published September 14, 2008
Last updated September 27, 2011
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