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Demographics and perceptions of Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration attendees
Abstracts / Journal of Equine Veterinary Science 33 (2013) 321-399
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(p ¼ 0.074). Averaged across all 5 years, there was a main effect of income category (p < 0.001), and within this there was a tendency for Board-Standardbreds to be higher than Board-Other Breeds (p ¼ 0.09). Further, within year 2008, income derived from Standardbred sources accounted for approximately 33% of the total income while in 2012 it represented approximately 75% of the total. We conclude that income increased substantially in 2012, and that part of the increase in Ohio State ATI’s income was due to increased spending on Standardbreds. Thus, it is possible that state support of racing improved the racing economy of northern Ohio and subsequently income generation by the services Ohio State ATI provides to Standardbred racehorse owners.
spectators, owners and exhibitors, were associated with a greater response (P ¼ 0.042) that they would no longer attend if pads were eliminated. When asked if their attendance would be affected if a smaller pad was required and the action device removed, 29% would be more likely to attend, 31% less likely to attend, 25% were unsure, 6% indicated it would make no difference, and 9% wrote in an answer. Results of this survey provide answers about The Celebration attendees and perceptions of pads and action devices.
Demographics and perceptions of Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration attendees
M.C. Nicodemus, and S.A. Lindsey Animal & Dairy Sciences, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762
E.D. Lowrey, W.W. Gill, and R.M. Hoffman School of Agribusiness and Agriscience, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN 37132 The Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration began in 1939. It crowns the World Grand Champion and has an economic impact estimated at $40 million annually. The gait of the Tennessee Walking Horse is naturally animated but has been routinely enhanced through the use of pads and action devices and sometimes illegally enhanced by soring (application of chemicals or pressure shoeing). In June 2012, the AMVA and AAEP issued a position statement calling for a ban on pads and action devices. Their position is that the pad and action device provides a method to exacerbate or disguise soring. Pads and action devices have been used since the 1940s, and some of the most popular classes at The Celebration have padded horses. The purpose of this study was to survey The Celebration participants to determine demographics and opinion regarding use of pads and action devices. Our hypothesis was that the type of participant (trainer, owner, exhibitor, spectator) would influence responses regarding pads and action devices. A five question survey was administered on the show grounds during The Celebration in 2012. The survey was approved by the MTSU Institutional Review Board. Participants were limited to ages 18 and older. Questions included type of participant (trainer, exhibitor, owner, spectator), years attended, primary reason for attending, likelihood of attending if pads were eliminated, and likelihood of attending if a smaller pad was required and the action device removed. Data were analyzed using the PROC FREQ with a chi-square option in SAS. 346 surveys were collected and analyzed. Survey participants included 41% spectators, 22% exhibitors, 27% owners, and 10% trainers. Of those surveyed, 7% were first year attendees, 11% for 2-5 years, 30% for 6-15 years, 31% for 16-30 years, and 21% for over 30 years. The primary reason for attending included 40% to watch the horse show, 2% to socialize, 1.5% to attend the trade show, and 53% indicated participation in all activities. Additionally, 3.5% wrote in an answer. Two questions included perception regarding the use of pads and action devices. When asked if they would continue to attend if pads were eliminated, 55% said they would continue to attend, 21% were unsure, and 24% would no longer attend. Of these, the chi-square analysis indicated that trainers, compared to
Does the potential horse owner view horse harvesting and processing as a solution to the unwanted horse population?
Although surveys have cited horse harvesting and processing as a horse owner solution for unwanted horse disposal, this option has not been available since 2007 due to state legislation and loss of federal funding. This past year marked the reintroduction of federal funding for facility inspection making the reopening a possibility. While these developments were favorable to the horse owner, the perspectives of the non-horse owner concerning horse harvesting and processing is anecdotal as research concerning the views of the non-horse owner concerning the unwanted horse is limited. In addition, due to horse prices being so low, these non-horse owners may eventually become horse owners making their views pertinent to the horse industry. Therefore, study objectives were to survey current non-horse owners with the potential of becoming future horse owners to determine their background knowledge and viewpoints towards horse harvesting and processing. 11-item survey with forced-choice questions concerning horse processing and harvesting was given to 218 individuals that currently do not own horses, but had the intention of becoming horse owners. Participants, over the age of 18 years, were recruited in person at horse-related activities stationed in various locations throughout the United States including horse shows, rodeos, extension activities, and equine courses and clinics. The % of survey participants was determined for each question. The majority (88%) of respondents resided in the Southeast Central United States and had participated in trail riding (52%) at some point in their lives, but only 20% had ever owned a horse. Only 26% of respondents had any confidence of their understanding of horse harvesting and processing and of those most received their information from speaking to friends and family (30%). Support of reopening horse processing and harvesting facilities was found in 37% of respondents, but 45% would not utilize the facility if they had a horse in which of those 44% may reconsider using the facility if there were restrictions concerning human consumption and the majority of all respondents (64%) wanted restrictions concerning the health of those horses processed and harvested. While horse processing and harvesting may not be a preferred solution to the unwanted horse, 85% of respondents had not donated to rescue, retirement, or adoption facilities for the unwanted horse and 39% had no intention of donating to these
381
(p ¼ 0.074). Averaged across all 5 years, there was a main effect of income category (p < 0.001), and within this there was a tendency for Board-Standardbreds to be higher than Board-Other Breeds (p ¼ 0.09). Further, within year 2008, income derived from Standardbred sources accounted for approximately 33% of the total income while in 2012 it represented approximately 75% of the total. We conclude that income increased substantially in 2012, and that part of the increase in Ohio State ATI’s income was due to increased spending on Standardbreds. Thus, it is possible that state support of racing improved the racing economy of northern Ohio and subsequently income generation by the services Ohio State ATI provides to Standardbred racehorse owners.
spectators, owners and exhibitors, were associated with a greater response (P ¼ 0.042) that they would no longer attend if pads were eliminated. When asked if their attendance would be affected if a smaller pad was required and the action device removed, 29% would be more likely to attend, 31% less likely to attend, 25% were unsure, 6% indicated it would make no difference, and 9% wrote in an answer. Results of this survey provide answers about The Celebration attendees and perceptions of pads and action devices.
Demographics and perceptions of Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration attendees
M.C. Nicodemus, and S.A. Lindsey Animal & Dairy Sciences, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762
E.D. Lowrey, W.W. Gill, and R.M. Hoffman School of Agribusiness and Agriscience, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN 37132 The Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration began in 1939. It crowns the World Grand Champion and has an economic impact estimated at $40 million annually. The gait of the Tennessee Walking Horse is naturally animated but has been routinely enhanced through the use of pads and action devices and sometimes illegally enhanced by soring (application of chemicals or pressure shoeing). In June 2012, the AMVA and AAEP issued a position statement calling for a ban on pads and action devices. Their position is that the pad and action device provides a method to exacerbate or disguise soring. Pads and action devices have been used since the 1940s, and some of the most popular classes at The Celebration have padded horses. The purpose of this study was to survey The Celebration participants to determine demographics and opinion regarding use of pads and action devices. Our hypothesis was that the type of participant (trainer, owner, exhibitor, spectator) would influence responses regarding pads and action devices. A five question survey was administered on the show grounds during The Celebration in 2012. The survey was approved by the MTSU Institutional Review Board. Participants were limited to ages 18 and older. Questions included type of participant (trainer, exhibitor, owner, spectator), years attended, primary reason for attending, likelihood of attending if pads were eliminated, and likelihood of attending if a smaller pad was required and the action device removed. Data were analyzed using the PROC FREQ with a chi-square option in SAS. 346 surveys were collected and analyzed. Survey participants included 41% spectators, 22% exhibitors, 27% owners, and 10% trainers. Of those surveyed, 7% were first year attendees, 11% for 2-5 years, 30% for 6-15 years, 31% for 16-30 years, and 21% for over 30 years. The primary reason for attending included 40% to watch the horse show, 2% to socialize, 1.5% to attend the trade show, and 53% indicated participation in all activities. Additionally, 3.5% wrote in an answer. Two questions included perception regarding the use of pads and action devices. When asked if they would continue to attend if pads were eliminated, 55% said they would continue to attend, 21% were unsure, and 24% would no longer attend. Of these, the chi-square analysis indicated that trainers, compared to
Does the potential horse owner view horse harvesting and processing as a solution to the unwanted horse population?
Although surveys have cited horse harvesting and processing as a horse owner solution for unwanted horse disposal, this option has not been available since 2007 due to state legislation and loss of federal funding. This past year marked the reintroduction of federal funding for facility inspection making the reopening a possibility. While these developments were favorable to the horse owner, the perspectives of the non-horse owner concerning horse harvesting and processing is anecdotal as research concerning the views of the non-horse owner concerning the unwanted horse is limited. In addition, due to horse prices being so low, these non-horse owners may eventually become horse owners making their views pertinent to the horse industry. Therefore, study objectives were to survey current non-horse owners with the potential of becoming future horse owners to determine their background knowledge and viewpoints towards horse harvesting and processing. 11-item survey with forced-choice questions concerning horse processing and harvesting was given to 218 individuals that currently do not own horses, but had the intention of becoming horse owners. Participants, over the age of 18 years, were recruited in person at horse-related activities stationed in various locations throughout the United States including horse shows, rodeos, extension activities, and equine courses and clinics. The % of survey participants was determined for each question. The majority (88%) of respondents resided in the Southeast Central United States and had participated in trail riding (52%) at some point in their lives, but only 20% had ever owned a horse. Only 26% of respondents had any confidence of their understanding of horse harvesting and processing and of those most received their information from speaking to friends and family (30%). Support of reopening horse processing and harvesting facilities was found in 37% of respondents, but 45% would not utilize the facility if they had a horse in which of those 44% may reconsider using the facility if there were restrictions concerning human consumption and the majority of all respondents (64%) wanted restrictions concerning the health of those horses processed and harvested. While horse processing and harvesting may not be a preferred solution to the unwanted horse, 85% of respondents had not donated to rescue, retirement, or adoption facilities for the unwanted horse and 39% had no intention of donating to these