Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. © Ken Braddick/dressage-news.com
WEST PALM BEACH, Florida, July 23–Florida’s winter equestrian circuit of jumping, hunter, dressage and polo competitions had a positive impact of more than $185 million on the economy of Palm Beach County in 2011, according to a study conducted for the Palm Beach County Sports Commission.
The study, conducted for the commission by Profile Marketing Research, found the biggest impact by far came from more than $120 million attributable to the Winter Equestrian Festival of 12 weeks of jumper-hunter competitions at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center.
The World Equestrian Games in Kentucky last year reported economic impact of “direct” spending of $128.2 million.
According to the survey of 222 participants at WEF, all conducted by the research company, there were 15,000 participants.
Of the estimated 48,686 hotel room nights attributable to equestrian activities, 47,139 were directly attributable to WEF.
The study found that the average travel party for all equestrian activity, that included competitors, officials, vendors and others, was 4.8 persons and the average spent $37,300, of which $29,328 was for horses.
Expenses for horses for competitors only, though, averaged $35,799 for WEF but jumped to $38,816 for dressage participants…….
WHY ?? (There are so many big jumper barns, some importing 100 a horses a year, so they get discounts for volume, perhaps that’s the reason)Remember, it’s the individuals people’s moneys that are being used and the fundings are being used to create, maintain and elevate the horse industry. We have no government subsidy, we do it ourselves, for ourselves and our children.
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