edward
07-09-2009, 05:29 PM
Arizona’s Horse Council
Update
Our May 16 meeting with Tim Bee Director of Southern AZ for Governor Jan Brewer went extremely well. In addition to Tim, were Jane Strain Cochise College Governing Board, Jim Marten Deputy Director of Southern Arizona and Anne May Cochise Co Rep for ASHA (Kudos to Ann, for arranging this meeting). Arguably the most important measure of just how well we did was how much time they gave us to complete our presentation. The meeting took place on a Saturday afternoon in Sierra Vista. It lasted three hours. During those three hours they did not just listen to what we had to say, they actually participated in the presentation. On average you or I would be lucky to get anyone to listen to us for three hours, much less for a politician or government employee especially on a Saturday.
Although a success, this is only one step in the process of changing the attitude and perception of Arizona’s more than $1.6 Billion Dollar industry. We must change the attitude at the top while we continue to fight all the little forest fires at the bottom. For, if we do not succeed with the governor and the legislature, then all those little fires will consume us and all will be lost.
One issue we discussed on May 16 was the Arizona Equestrian Attitude. Our attitude is “We Tolerate Horses”. While you are digesting that quote consider the following facts and figures for other states. Arizona’s horse population ranks 23rd in the USA. We have 177,000 horses according to a 2005 study. All of the Snowbelt (Midwest) states that have 5 months of winter and are where the majority of our migration is from, have more horses than we do. Ohio has 306,000 Minnesota 182,000 Illinois 192,000 and Wisconsin 178,000. Arizona is 3x the size of Ohio, 2x Wisconsin, 2x Illinois and 1.5x Minnesota.
Florida, a Sunbelt state like Arizona, with a huge population explosion similar to us, has 500, 000 horses. Our neighbor Colorado is about the same size as us, has less population and has more horses than Arizona.
How equine friendly are we?
Kentucky gave the horse industry $12,000,000 to help increase the numbers of horses in their state. Yes, you read this correct. They g a v e the industry $12,000,000. Little North Carolina spent $500,000 to study how to grow the horse industry there. What has Arizona done? Nothing, nada, no incentives and we have to fight battles to keep what few rights we have.
Why should Arizona do anything for the Horse Industry?
The answer is simple. Arizona needs to diversify it’s economy. Arizona is more economically dependent on housing than Michigan is on the Auto industry. Arizona has the 2nd worst housing depreciation in the US. Did you guess the absolute worst? Michigan. Hopefully Arizona and Michigan learned a valuable lesson. The horse industry provides thousands of jobs in our state and with incentives could provide many more.
Why should Arizona grow the Horse Industry, surely there are other, more qualified industries to invest in?
In addition to economic diversification, the horse industry contributes more to society than most if not all other industries. How so? Horses are not just pretty creatures they, help the blind, disabled Iraq vets, prevent juvenile drug abuse, rehab prisoners, work miracles with autistic children, build confidence, mirror emotions, help adults who are physically disabled, used for anger management, establish responsibility, provide outside activities for children and adults, get kids off the video games and TV, provide shows, shopping and competitions for children and adults and entertainment for tens of thousands of non equestrians. There are more than 43 different horse sports to participate in, or watch and enjoy, or both.
Horses are Green. They have always been green and always will be. We need more land to stable horse on our property. We create and maintain more trails and open space. We leave no permanent trace or destruction of nature. Horses define nature. We are nature.
Horses are good for the economy, environment and society. The real question should be what’s wrong with Arizona? Why wouldn’t they want to grow us? Why don’t we have more horses than the states cited above? And what are they going to do for us now and into the future?
Let’s educate and sell the powers to be by uniting under the Arizona Horse Council- Arizona State Horsemen’s Association umbrella. Attend meetings, introduce us to your political contacts, join us and show your financial support by making a donation. We take credit cards at www.azasha.com
The presentation we gave to Tim Bee is available to be used as a tool to educate equestrians and others as to the value we bring to the state.
For more information contact me at:allabouthorses.com
Ed O’Brien
VP ASHA
Publisher AllAboutHorses.com
Update
Our May 16 meeting with Tim Bee Director of Southern AZ for Governor Jan Brewer went extremely well. In addition to Tim, were Jane Strain Cochise College Governing Board, Jim Marten Deputy Director of Southern Arizona and Anne May Cochise Co Rep for ASHA (Kudos to Ann, for arranging this meeting). Arguably the most important measure of just how well we did was how much time they gave us to complete our presentation. The meeting took place on a Saturday afternoon in Sierra Vista. It lasted three hours. During those three hours they did not just listen to what we had to say, they actually participated in the presentation. On average you or I would be lucky to get anyone to listen to us for three hours, much less for a politician or government employee especially on a Saturday.
Although a success, this is only one step in the process of changing the attitude and perception of Arizona’s more than $1.6 Billion Dollar industry. We must change the attitude at the top while we continue to fight all the little forest fires at the bottom. For, if we do not succeed with the governor and the legislature, then all those little fires will consume us and all will be lost.
One issue we discussed on May 16 was the Arizona Equestrian Attitude. Our attitude is “We Tolerate Horses”. While you are digesting that quote consider the following facts and figures for other states. Arizona’s horse population ranks 23rd in the USA. We have 177,000 horses according to a 2005 study. All of the Snowbelt (Midwest) states that have 5 months of winter and are where the majority of our migration is from, have more horses than we do. Ohio has 306,000 Minnesota 182,000 Illinois 192,000 and Wisconsin 178,000. Arizona is 3x the size of Ohio, 2x Wisconsin, 2x Illinois and 1.5x Minnesota.
Florida, a Sunbelt state like Arizona, with a huge population explosion similar to us, has 500, 000 horses. Our neighbor Colorado is about the same size as us, has less population and has more horses than Arizona.
How equine friendly are we?
Kentucky gave the horse industry $12,000,000 to help increase the numbers of horses in their state. Yes, you read this correct. They g a v e the industry $12,000,000. Little North Carolina spent $500,000 to study how to grow the horse industry there. What has Arizona done? Nothing, nada, no incentives and we have to fight battles to keep what few rights we have.
Why should Arizona do anything for the Horse Industry?
The answer is simple. Arizona needs to diversify it’s economy. Arizona is more economically dependent on housing than Michigan is on the Auto industry. Arizona has the 2nd worst housing depreciation in the US. Did you guess the absolute worst? Michigan. Hopefully Arizona and Michigan learned a valuable lesson. The horse industry provides thousands of jobs in our state and with incentives could provide many more.
Why should Arizona grow the Horse Industry, surely there are other, more qualified industries to invest in?
In addition to economic diversification, the horse industry contributes more to society than most if not all other industries. How so? Horses are not just pretty creatures they, help the blind, disabled Iraq vets, prevent juvenile drug abuse, rehab prisoners, work miracles with autistic children, build confidence, mirror emotions, help adults who are physically disabled, used for anger management, establish responsibility, provide outside activities for children and adults, get kids off the video games and TV, provide shows, shopping and competitions for children and adults and entertainment for tens of thousands of non equestrians. There are more than 43 different horse sports to participate in, or watch and enjoy, or both.
Horses are Green. They have always been green and always will be. We need more land to stable horse on our property. We create and maintain more trails and open space. We leave no permanent trace or destruction of nature. Horses define nature. We are nature.
Horses are good for the economy, environment and society. The real question should be what’s wrong with Arizona? Why wouldn’t they want to grow us? Why don’t we have more horses than the states cited above? And what are they going to do for us now and into the future?
Let’s educate and sell the powers to be by uniting under the Arizona Horse Council- Arizona State Horsemen’s Association umbrella. Attend meetings, introduce us to your political contacts, join us and show your financial support by making a donation. We take credit cards at www.azasha.com
The presentation we gave to Tim Bee is available to be used as a tool to educate equestrians and others as to the value we bring to the state.
For more information contact me at:allabouthorses.com
Ed O’Brien
VP ASHA
Publisher AllAboutHorses.com