SARATOGA CO., N.Y. — Cornell Cooperative Extension Equine (CCE Equine) and The New York State Horse Council (NYSHC) partnered in mid-March 2020 to create a Covid-19 impact assessment survey for equine related business owners and managers in New York State. This survey was released in April 2020 with the objective to better understand the perceived economic impact COVID-19 had on New York State Equine related businesses.
Survey Response Description
The target population was businesses owners or managers of equine-related business in New York State, this included Feed Suppliers, veterinarians, horse lesson or training facilities, breeding facilities, transportation services and more. The survey had over 500 respondents that indicated owning a business that serves New York State. The majority of respondents indicated their business and being either a lesson or training facility or a Boarding Facility.
Businesses owners and managers were asked to report their annual gross revenue for a typical year, the 70% of respondents indicated their annual gross income as being less than $100,000.00. Respondents also indicated if their business was considered essential under the Pause Plan. Sixty three respondents (13%) reported that their entire business was considered essential while 202 respondents (43%) reported parts of their business as being considered essential.
The questions “How Severe do you expect the effects of COVID-19 to be on your Business” 150 respondents (33%) reported the effects of COVID 19 to be Extremely Sever, 138 (29%) indicated Very Severe and 110 (23%) indicated the expected effects of COVID 19 to be Moderately Sever. Sixty six respondents (10%) indicated the effects of COVID 19 to be either slightly severe or nor severe at all.
There were 231 respondents (49%) that indicated they would be somewhat likely or extremely likely to make temporary or permanent reduction to staff due to COVID-19. While 131 respondents indicated somewhat unlikely or extremely unlikely to temporarily or permanently making reduction to their staff. There were 105 respondents (23%) that indicated neither likely nor unlikely.
There were 228 respondents (49%) that indicated there business will incur or has already incurred additional expenses. One hundred and Sixty one respondents reported no and 69 respondents reported they were unsure to the questions, “Will your business incur or has it already incurred any additional expenses due to COVID-19?”.
For the questions “are you concerned that you may lose your business due to COVID-19 crisis” there were 159 respondents (34%) that indicated yes, 162 respondents (34%) that indicated no and 150 respondents (32%) that indicated they were unsure.
Survey Discussion
The purpose of this survey was to provide an opportunity for Equine-related businesses owners and managers to report the perceived impact Covid-19 had on their business. It is clear that there is perceived financial distress. Over 30% of respondents indicated concern of losing their business while over another 30% of respondents indicated they were unsure if they would lose their business due to the COVID-19 crisis.
Despite the reported struggle equine-related businesses are encountering, 73% indicated not receiving any financial benefit for programs, loans, or tax credits to offset losses. Respondents reported “Applied for Funding but haven’t heard back” and “Applied for ppp but haven’t received any monies as of yet”. Thirty seven percent of respondents reported needing financial assistance to keep daily activities of their business going. This survey provides insight to the equine industry and the economic
distress that is occurring.
One respondent wrote that the Covid-19 crisis was “crippling any source of income- but we continue to have all or our normal expenses as horses continue to be fed and cared for which is a high expense…”. Businesses are clearly indicating financial concern, more information is required gathered to better understand the severity of the Covid-19 crisis has been on the Equine industry in New York State.
Should you have any questions please contact Brieanna Hughes, CCE Equine Resource Educator at Bh548@cornell.edu or Sarah Collier, NYSHC Recording Secretary, at sara.collier@nyshc.org. If you are an Equine Related business owner or manager looking for related resources please visit the links below for more information or contact Brieanna Hughes at bh548@cornell.edu, 518-885-8995, visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/cceequine/ at
www.cceequine.com.
NY Forward Business Safety Plan Support for (Equine) Farms:
PDF of Equine webinar slides
Recording of Equine webinar
EQUINE OPERATIONS IN NEW YORKSTATE; BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FOR USE DURING
COVID-19 OUTBREAK
Resources and Financial Assistance for Equine Owners and Operations
–Cornell Cooperative Extension Saratoga County
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