A two-year study of the Montgomery County’s horse industry reveals that the County is home to almost 11,000 horses, whose owners spend close to $72 million annually on their animals and riding-related infrastructure, such as arenas, barns, and equipment. An estimated 3,500 additional horses are owned by County residents but kept outside of the County. The study was undertaken by the Montgomery Soil Conservation District while funded by the County’s Department of Economic Development. 

With the more than 80 boarding stables filled to capacity and new horse properties appearing almost daily, Montgomery County’s horse industry continues to grow despite limited available land. 
 “As the equine or horse component of the agricultural industry has grown rapidly over the past 25 years, it became apparent that its contribution and importance to the County needed to be studied in depth,” Montgomery County Executive Douglas Duncan said in his introduction to the study’s final report. “With this upward trend in mind, it is important for public officials at all levels of government to better understand and identify the importance and benefits that horses provide.” 

The Montgomery Soil Conservation District has compiled a Montgomery County Directory of Equine Services. Copies of the Directory and the Study, will be available from the Soil Conservation District office and on the FarmerLink.com internet marketing tool.   For more information on the Montgomery County Horse Study, contact Allison Rogers at the Montgomery Soil Conservation District, (301) 590-2855.