3 Jun 2008
Horse Hero Survey Results
Dear friends and horse lovers,
Why are people mad about horses? That's what Horse Hero set out to discover in its launch survey. Over 400 horse owners and carers responded to the survey. Most (53%) classed themselves as competing amateurs, 33% did not compete and only 8% were professional riders. We asked:
How important is our relationship with horses?
- 90% said horses were "very important" in their lives, or they "were their lives".
- The overwhelming majority (62%) said that "friendship and trust" was the most important factor in their relationship with horses. 14% said that "understanding horses better" was top (ahead of improving riding, fitness, relaxation or competing).
- When asked if they routinely make special time to connect with their horses (through prolonged grooming or petting), 97% of respondents said they did.
- 96% reported that their relationship with horses had taught them about themselves and 94% of respondents said horses improved their sense of well-being "a lot" or "hugely".
What do people most enjoy doing with their horses?
- A third (33%) said "lessons, training and schooling" were their favourite activities, while 26% preferred "competing". (It’s possible, of course, that competing provides a focus for the groundwork that people enjoy.)
How much time & money do people spend?
- More than half the respondents spend in excess of 16 hours a week with their horses and 34% spend more than 20 hours.
- Unsurprisingly, Horse Hero found that 47% people spend more than a quarter of their total income on horses and 22% spend over 40% (probably more than the cost of an average mortgage!).
How do people get into horses?
- 60% of respondents started riding as a result of having lessons when they were children, rather than because their family was horsey (only 30%).
- Even so, 71% of horse owners involve their family. Remaining families think respondents "are mad" regards their passion to horses!
What age are they when they start riding?
- 77% of respondents started riding before the age of 10. Very few (only 5%) started after the age of 21.
- 73% owned, loaned or shared their first horse before the age of 20. Approximately half of these did so before the age of 10.
Where do people turn for advice?
- 78% say their knowledge of horses and horse care is good or very good but even so, 72% would like to improve it "a lot".
- 15% turn to the internet for advice, in the first instance, over and above vets, books and magazines.
Do horse people use the internet?
- 87% use the web several times a day and 51% spending more than an hour a day on the internet.
Commenting on the survey, Fiona Price, MD of Horse Hero said: "What we found was amazing. I know intuitively, as an owner and rider, that equestrian enthusiasts spend vast amounts of time and money on their horses, as I do. But it’s pretty shocking to find that nearly 50% spend over a quarter of their income on horses! Also, I thought I was in the minority coming from a non-horsey family but this is not the case. Having lessons and caring for a pony before the age of 10 is a more significant factor. Most interesting of all, however, is the relationship people have with their horses. Over 90% said horses were very important to them and that they had changed their lives, taught them about themselves and increased their wellbeing. So that’s why we are mad about horses!"
Click here to read all news articles.