Demographics of Australian horse owners: results from an internet-based survey.
Abstract: To obtain information on the demographics of Australian horse owners. Methods: An invitation to participate in an opt-in, internet-based survey was sent to 7000 persons who had registered an email address to receive information from the Australian Horse Industry Council Inc. These horse owners represented approximately 1.75% of the total horse owners in Australia. The survey was available for completion between 1 and 31 July 2009. Results: There were 3377 (48%) useable responses. The respondents were a self-selected group of approximately 0.85% of the estimated total horse owners in Australia. The overall geographic distribution of respondents was the same as the general population at a state and territory level. In general, respondents were female and aged between 31 and 60 years; most lived in rural areas of Queensland, New South Wales or Victoria; had at least a secondary education, but no formal horse industry qualification; had a higher weekly income if based in a capital city; earned less than 10% of weekly income from horse-related activities; were a member of more than one horse industry organisation; reported an affiliation with one of more than 300 different horse industry organisations; spent 10-30% of their daily time with horses; and preferred to receive information by email. Conclusions: The responses from this survey of horse owners provided demographic information that was previously unavailable. Horse owners tended to be older than the general population, had a higher level of education attainment, were in higher weekly income brackets and lived mostly in non-metropolitan areas of Australia. Because of the self-selection and small sample size, the results need to be interpreted with caution. Nevertheless, the present results are compatible with other smaller random and non-random surveys of horse owners internationally.
© 2015 Australian Veterinary Association.
Publication Date: 2016-01-16 PubMed ID: 26769068DOI: 10.1111/avj.12390Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research article covers a study on the demographics of Australian horse owners, as gathered from an internet-based survey. This study offers insights into the characteristics of this specific group, showing patterns regarding age, income, geographical location, education and affiliations within the horse industry.
Methodology
- The researchers sent out an invitation to participate in an internet-based survey to 7000 persons who had registered an email address with the Australian Horse Industry Council Inc.
- The horse owners who received the invitation represented approximately 1.75% of the total horse owners in Australia.
- The survey was conducted during the month of July in 2009, and received 3377 usable responses, which accounts for approximately 0.85% of the total horse owners in the country.
Survey findings
- The respondents were generally females aged between 31 to 60 years.
- Most of the respondents lived in rural parts of Queensland, New South Wales or Victoria.
- Respondents were typically well-educated, with most having at least a secondary education, although they often did not possess formal qualifications in the horse industry.
- Those who were based in a capital city generally reported a higher weekly income.
- Less than 10% of the respondents’ weekly income came from horse-related activities.
- Majority of respondents were members of more than one horse industry organisation and reported affiliations with a myriad of horse industry organisations.
- They also usually dedicated between 10 to 30% of their daily time to horses.
- Email was the preferred mode of receiving information for the majority of the respondents.
Conclusion
- The survey has provided important demographic information about Australian horse owners that wasn’t available before.
- While the survey results are limited due to the methodology (self-selection and small sample size), it shows that horse owners are typically older, have a higher level of education attainment, have a greater weekly income and live mostly in non-metropolitan areas compared to the general population in Australia.
- The results of this survey aligned with those of smaller, random and non-random surveys of horse owners conducted globally.
Cite This Article
APA
Smyth GB, Dagley K.
(2016).
Demographics of Australian horse owners: results from an internet-based survey.
Aust Vet J, 93(12), 433-438.
https://doi.org/10.1111/avj.12390 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Australian Horse Industry Council Inc., Geelong, Victoria, Australia.
- Australian Horse Industry Council Inc., Geelong, Victoria, Australia.
MeSH Terms
- Adolescent
- Adult
- Age Distribution
- Aged
- Animal Husbandry / economics
- Animal Husbandry / statistics & numerical data
- Animals
- Australia
- Child
- Child, Preschool
- Demography
- Female
- Horses
- Humans
- Income
- Infant
- Internet
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Ownership / statistics & numerical data
- Sex Distribution
- Socioeconomic Factors
- Surveys and Questionnaires
- Young Adult
Citations
This article has been cited 5 times.- Martos Martinez-Caja A, De Herdt V, Enders-Slegers MJ, Moons CPH. Pet ownership, feelings of loneliness, and mood in people affected by the first COVID-19 lockdown. J Vet Behav 2022 Nov;57:52-63.
- Fenner K, Caspar G, Hyde M, Henshall C, Dhand N, Probyn-Rapsey F, Dashper K, McLean A, McGreevy P. It's all about the sex, or is it? Humans, horses and temperament. PLoS One 2019;14(5):e0216699.
- Padalino B, Raidal SL, Hall E, Knight P, Celi P, Jeffcott L, Muscatello G. A Survey on Transport Management Practices Associated with Injuries and Health Problems in Horses. PLoS One 2016;11(9):e0162371.
- Williams JM, Jordan S, Friend L, Kay E, Edmunds M, Flynn H, Wensley S. A move in the right direction: Tracking the traceability of British Thoroughbreds outside of racing. PLoS One 2025;20(9):e0331968.
- Knox AL, Fenner K, Zsoldos RR, Wilson B, McGreevy P. Owner-Observed Behavioral Characteristics in Off-the-Track Thoroughbreds (OTTTBs) in Equestrian Second Careers. Animals (Basel) 2025 Jul 11;15(14).
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