Horses in Minnesota
There are over 9 million horses in the United States today. Most of these horses are kept for recreational purposes, though over 800,000 are involved in the racing industry and many others are involved in agriculture. Minnesota has the ninth largest horse population in the nation with over 155,000 horses.
The horse industry contributes $101.5 billion annually to the United States economy, contributing about $1 billion in Minnesota. In addition to economic benefits, horses are a recreational asset to the state. Horse racing, showing, and recreational riding are activities enjoyed by many Minnesotans.