Horse Industry Grows While Dairy Farms Disappear

In spite of the onrushing development, horses still are a major part of Loudoun County business and culture. The number of horses may be actually increasing because the new population is also participating in horse ownership. It is hard to find a native of Loudoun County who did not grow up with horses.

The Rural Economy Task Force reports

Loudoun County is home to over 19,800 horses, more than any other county inVirginia. Loudon’s horses generate on average $89 million per year in sales, $78 million in operating expenses and provide employment for 2,480. The capital investment per horse is estimated to be $14,251 and the land supporting each horse is valued at $46,445. Horse owners in Loudoun spend almost 50 percent more per year per horse ($3,930) than all other Virginia horse owners

G. .recently moved his horse shoeing business from Lancaster County,PA to Loudoun because of the larger concentration of horse owners here.. He says that you can run a very busy shoeing business all within a radius of 20 miles of Middleburg

The decline of dairy farms has provided the developers with the land. In 1965, there were approximately 300 dairy farms, now there is only one.