The following is some of the data reported in a study by the N.C. Rural Economic Development Center, Inc. on the economic impact of the equine industry in North Carolina.

&ull; 306,889 head of equine in the state and 53,095 hourseholds with equine

&ull; 2,123,800 acres of land dedicated to equine operations

&ull; 19,138 full- and part-time jobs in the state

&ull; $1.4 billion total spending on goods and serves by equine owners; 89.7 percent occuring within the state

&ull; $66.6 million spending by horse show exhibitors who are not residents of North Carolina at the three state-operated horse show facilities; 27 percent of the exhibitors at the three facilities are nonresidents of the state.

&ull; $196 million in federal, state and local tax revenue

&ull; Estimated $2.2 billion total value of the equine industry in N.C.; $1.9 billion total additional economic impact of the industry