KEMPTVILLE — The typical horse owner is female, between 40 to 50-years-old, well educated and from a double income family, enjoying a higher level of income than the average Canadian. And they are beginning to make up a sizable segment of rural Canada.

The number of horses and ponies in Canada rose from 358,000 in 1981 to about 460,000 in 2006, an increase of about 25 per cent.

In Ontario, 12,333 farms reported owning horses, while 4,600 farms have cows. But there are 97,285 horses and 400,000 cows.

Nonetheless, the presence of horses in rural areas is being felt. Larry Hutchinson, manager of Tri-County Agri-mart in Belleville, says there are more horses in Northumberland County than dairy cows. And Doug Baker, of Bakers’ Feed Supply in Leeds County, says the only part of his business expanding is the horse sector.

Says Dr. Katrina Merkies, who heads the equine department at Kemptville College: "The rich areas around Toronto and Ottawa show the most growth." What’s more, the Ottawa area boasts two world class competitors, Jill Henslewood and Ian Miller, making it a hot spot for jumping competitions.

A female horse owner, however, probably owned a horse as a child, she says. "She’s more into developing a relationship with the animal" than competing with the animal.

"She (typical owner) wants a horse that’s safe, well-behaved, and ground manners are important." Merkies points out that owners spend more time grooming, feeding and caring for their horses than they do riding them.

Merkies and Kemptville College are betting that the upward trend will continue. Last fall, the college added an equine degree program to the certificate and diploma programs, bringing the total number of equine students to about 100.

The degree program provides not only technical and scientific information but also a "broad awareness" of the industry along with business skills.

She teaches a course called "Trends and Issues" and says animal welfare advocates have hurt the industry in recent years. Under pressure, the U.S. has banned the slaughter of horses and as a consequence Americans are sending their expiring horses into Canada where a bottleneck has been created because there are only two horse slaughtering facilities.

Racing is also under pressure because it is deemed inhumane. However, a race horse has an instinct to race, she says, and people who want racing banned do not have the best interest of the horse at heart.

Crop farmers can begin to say goodbye to the long-held concept that horse hay need only be green and dust free. Merkies says horses are also fed grain and the ration has to be balanced. Horse owners are becoming more concerned about the content of the hay they feed.