Salute to Idaho Agriculture: the horse industry

SHOSHONE, Idaho (KMVT/KSVT) — The Kentucky Derby was this past weekend so there is no better time to find out what Idaho’s horse industry is all about and that’s the focus of this week’s Salute to Idaho Agriculture.

The horse is one of two animals on Idaho’s state flag, and it should have its place there especially after building this state up through agriculture, and even still today horses play a valuable role in ag.

“Ranching would be a big one, people still feed their cattle with horse drawn hay wagons. Obviously gathering cattle in the high country, the horse is the way the predominantly do that. There’s carriage operations, riding lessons, etc.” said Daniel Waugh, the Trails Chairman for the Idaho Horse Council.

These latter options as well as equine therapy provide Idahoans an opportunity to make a business out of their horses. According to the Idaho Horse Council’s latest census, the Gem State has over 270 thousand privately owned horses, making the industry one of Idaho’s largest.

“Last year alone in Idaho the horse industry was roughly a $1.6 to 1.7 billion (dollars in revenue) for the entire horse industry. That’s rather large. And we are trying to represent that so our leaders, our lawmakers actually understand what our industry is. Because commonly we don’t get looked at the same way as the Cattleman’s Association is,”Waugh said.

Getting the Horse Council on the same level as the Cattleman’s Association is necessary because the horse industry has grown 25% since 2015.

Dana Lovell, who owns Running T Horsemanship in Shoshone always knew she wanted to work with horses and talked about what it’s like.

“It is just me. I have a smaller operation, a more intimate operation. I do try to make time for my own (horses). I make a living working these horses and training, so first and foremost I work those that I’m getting paid to do so, and then I do try to make time for my own horses because this is my passion and I want to be able to still enjoy why I do this,” Lovell said.

Having a work-life balance is important in any job, but can be difficult to achieve working in agriculture. However Lovell has been able to do just that and also offered advice for young people looking to get involved with horses.

“I would tell them first and foremost education is power. Educating yourself in all facets of the industry, and which part of the industry you want to get in to and it doesn’t matter if your male or female, but if you have the education to back up how and why you do it, I think that is the most important thing,” Lovell said.

Idaho’s horse industry is growing at a very fast rate and that means there has never been a better time to get involved in this sector of Idaho Agriculture.

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