1969 Voice Of The Tennessee Walking Horse 1969 December Voice

HORSE INDUSTRY GROWING, RCA EXECUTIVE REPORTS I A horse of another color is kicking up its heels in the United States these days. That’s what a marketing expert of the Radio Corporation of America told the North Atlantic Section of the American Society of Animal Science during its meeting at the University of Delaware. Robert J. Eggert, staff vice presi dent, Economic and Marketing Re search with RCA, emphasized that we’re no longer seeing a skeletal horse industry but a healthy, grow ing one. "The forty-year downtrend in the horse population has stopped," Egg ert reported. "Since 1959 the horse population has increased over 100 per cent.” The U. S. horse population was estimated at 6,400,000 in January 1968 . . . and it’s still growing at a fast clip. Eggert pointed out that all major horse breeds have realized a vast increase during the past decade. For example, it took the American Quarter Horse Association almost 22 years to register its first quarter- million horses, but only 4l/2 years to reach half a million. He predicted a further increase in horse population because of several market-influencing factors: • The post-war baby boom is ush ering in a new set of customers — 21-year-olds increased by a million last year over the previous year. And the birth rate is going up again. • Real income was drastically re distributed between 1929 and 1967; there are many more families now in the middle-income class. A projection for 1982 shows many more lower- income families moving into the mid dle- and upper-income brackets. A long-range look into the 70’s suggests a growing and richer mar ket, Eggert said. There will be 17 million more households by 1980, and real disposable income will be up each year by 5 per cent. "What all this means for the horse industry is that horses are not only here to stay, they are going to mul tiply,” Eggert said. "The growth rate of the horse population probably will be double that of all goods and services for the nation as a whole during the decade of the 70’s. The industry is growing even faster than computers and color TV," he said. He urged a positive program of immediate action, and challenged the extension and research persons from the land grant universities of the North Atlantic region to expand horse research, education and ex tension in eight maj or areas — health, genetics, nutrition, legislation, feed PHEN!X CITY, ALABAMA PHONE 298-3895 Top Show Horses Brood Mares & Colts FOR SALE At All Times VISITORS WELCOME OWNER DR. AND MRS. N. S. LUTON MANAGER & TRAINER BILL CANTRELL ELMER HUMPHREY Manager/Owner Manager/Trainer FOUR 853-7687 j|j:j SFJBIFS 365-7603 1101 Edwards Lake Rd. Route Three BIRMINGHAM. ALA. STANFORD, KY. It’s Always a Pleasure to Serve You Top Show Horses, Brood Mares & Colts for Sale at All Times December, 1969 Christmas Gift for a Horse ? HEART of DIXIE STABLES VISITORS WELCOME HUL0N HUMPHREY production, breeding programs, train ing and care, and markets, both do mestic and foreign. Eggert emphasized the immense value of youth work with horses, especially the 4-H horse project. With more than 200,000 members, this is now the largest 4-H livestock project. "We all need to work together to make up for the long post-mechan- ized-farming period when the horse was left to fend for himself while research turned to other livestock," Eggert said. "I can’t stress too often how much the horse needs prompt action." For Your Friends Who Own Horses , and for Your Own Horse, Give the Perfect Gift for Christmas... VELV-K0TE Start rhe NEW YEAR off right for your horse and foal with VELV-KOTE. Con taining 24% protein VELV-KOTE will add new spirit, improve growth, and produce a VELVet-KOTE. AVAILABLE IN 50 lb. Drum 25 lb. Pail 6 lb. Box DEALER INQUIRIES INVITED SPECIAL OffERL SIX POUND Alien TRIAL BOX-------------w Postpaid anywhere in US.A. or Cancda JERSEE SECURITY COMPANY 312 Portland Minneapolis, Minn. 55415 55

1969 Voice Of The Tennessee Walking Horse 1969 December Voice | Page 55