Sponsored 

Source: Acera Insurance

Canada’s horse industry is not disappearing, but it is definitely changing. In Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia — where the majority of Canada’s horses live — horse use and equine housing are changing from farms, breeding, racing, and meat production to more recreational and sport horses living at boarding facilities and on mixed-use properties.

Those changes influence where and how people ride, how many horse-related businesses survive, whether breeding remains viable, and whether newcomers can find an affordable way into the horse world. There’s a similar pattern across all three provinces: costs are rising, and the future of participation increasingly depends on whether the sector can remain viable and welcoming.

Ontario: A Recent Snapshot

Ontario’s 2025 equine impact study estimated there are almost 162,000 horses in Ontario, far above the 41,528 horses and ponies counted in the 2021 Census of Agriculture. This is because many horses are kept at boarding barns, smaller acreages, and other operations that do not fit the Census’ narrow farm definition. However, Ontario’s horse numbers have declined sharply since 2006, with Thoroughbred foal registrations falling steeply between 2010 and 2023.

The 2025 study found that Ontario horses are used for equestrian disciplines (40.1 percent), recreational and pleasure riding (26.0 percent), racing (17.6 percent), Western disciplines (6.4 percent), and other roles (9.8 percent) such as therapy, sanctuary, companion, and working horses.

Most of the 1,200 survey respondents used horses for recreation but a significant minority generated some income from them, too. Economically, the sector remains formidable, supporting 35,739 full-time equivalent jobs.

Alberta: A Changing Herd 

A 2021 equine study in Alberta found that horse numbers had declined plus shifted to more recreation- and sport-oriented use. The study estimated there were over 142,000 horses living on more than 25,000 properties in the province. Horses were used for recreation (72,887), sport (53,423), work (7,920), and meat or outfitting (8,000).

Like Ontario, most of Alberta’s horses were kept on non-farm or mixed-use properties. Only 27 percent of surveyed properties qualified as farms.

The Census of Agriculture also found decreased farm-based horse counts, with a decline from about 139,000 horses in 2011 to about 68,000 in 2021. Meanwhile, the number of farms reporting horses fell from approximately 15,000 to 7,000 over the same period.

Since 2021, Alberta’s meat horse numbers have also undoubtedly fallen as live horse exports have decreased, processing facilities have closed, and Canada’s prairie-based slaughter and export trade is under pressure.

British Columbia: Dramatic Decrease Plus Racing Shock

A 2019 study of BC’s horse industry estimated there were 57,580 horses in the province residing at almost 20,000 households. This was a dramatic decrease from about 95,000 horses in 2009. In 2019, recreational horse use was most common while racing was the second-largest sector.

However, in December 2025, Hastings Racecourse in Vancouver ended live Thoroughbred racing. The closure followed an earlier shutdown of Fraser Downs for Standardbred racing, leaving no live horse racing west of the Rocky Mountains. The fallout for horse owners, trainers, breeders, and agricultural suppliers is still unfolding, but it’s likely that overall horse numbers in BC will drop further as a result.

Fewer Horses and Higher Costs

So, what does this all mean? 

In 2021, Equestrian Canada estimated there were almost 510,000 horses across the country; approximately 70 percent of them (362,000) live in Ontario, Alberta, and BC.

Prior to the 2021 study, Canada’s horse population was only measured via the Census of Agriculture. However, the Census only counts horses that live on properties that are considered “farms.” From 2001 onwards, the Census measured a marked decrease in horses on farms: over 460,000 horses in 2001, 392,000 in 2011, 291,000 in 2016, and 183,700 horses in 2021. So not only are there fewer horses on farms across Canada, but more recent provincial studies indicate that Canada’s overall horse population has significantly declined. 

Factors contributing to decreasing horse numbers include high costs, limited land access, labour shortages, and high barriers for new participants. High costs of buying and keeping horses, plus the extensive time commitment, are major barriers to entry and to those trying to remain in the industry. Fewer horses — and fewer affordable access points such as riding schools, grassroots events, and mentors — make it harder for people to enter the industry and easier for existing participants to leave. The result is that Canada’s horse industry is rapidly changing.

The future of Canada’s horse industry will depend on the people within it. By supporting newcomers, preserving affordable access, and adapting to changing realities, horse people can help ensure the industry remains both viable and welcoming for the next generation.

Acera Insurance

More Articles by Acera

Photo: iStock/Leon Harris