Summary provided by Kristy Laroche, Equine Register Canada.

Current Tariff Situation

The ongoing trade negotiations and potential tariff adjustments between Canada and the United States could significantly affect the equine sector, particularly in the following areas:

Equine Equipment & Supplies: Tariffs on imported tack, feed, supplements, and equipment could increase costs for horse owners, breeders, and trainers.

Accessing veterinary drugs; we are still assessing the impacts to access or loosing access to US based veterinary products that already face financial barriers and licensing products for veterinary use in Canada.

Live Horse Trade: Cross-border movement of horses for sales, breeding, competition, and slaughter could be affected by changing trade policies, including potential retaliatory tariffs.

Feed & Agricultural Inputs: Increases in tariffs on agricultural products such as hay, grains, and veterinary supplies may drive up operating costs for equine businesses.

Insurance & Transportation Costs: Additional regulatory barriers or costs due to tariffs could affect equine transporters and insurance providers operating between Canada and the U.S.

Event Participation: Rising costs could impact the ability of Canadian riders and trainers to compete in U.S. events and vice versa.

Breeding & Frozen Semen Costs: Increased tariffs on equine reproductive materials, including frozen semen, could make breeding more expensive and limit access to top international genetics.

Potential Impacts on the Canadian Equine Industry

Higher Costs for Equine Businesses

• Increased costs for imported feed, supplies, and equipment could put pressure on Canadian businesses, making it harder for them to remain competitive.

Disruptions in Cross-Border Horse Sales & Breeding

• Restrictions or increased tariffs on live horses could slow down the movement of breeding stock and competition horses, potentially affecting market dynamics.
• Rising costs for importing frozen semen and reproductive services could limit breeding opportunities for Canadian breeders and increase costs for buyers. 

Challenges for Canadian Competitors & Trainers

• Increased costs associated with U.S. travel, entry fees, and equipment may discourage Canadian participation in American events, affecting industry exposure and development.

Opportunity for Growth of Canadian Equine Products & Services

• Tariff pressures could encourage Canadian businesses to source domestically produced products, fostering local innovation and strengthening the national supply chain

Lessons from COVID-19: Ensuring Business Stability and Access to Relief Funding

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of equine businesses maintaining proper financial records and demonstrating income to qualify for potential relief funding. 

Equine businesses should proactively prepare for future economic challenges by ensuring they meet eligibility requirements for agricultural and business support programs, and understand operating expense changes and the associated impacts to their bottom line.

Engaging Networks & Developing Industry Mitigation Strategies

• Provincial partners and industry stakeholders must work together to create mitigation plans within the broader agriculture framework.
• Strengthening networks, sharing resources, and advocating for industry-specific support will help protect the equine sector from economic fluctuations caused by trade disputes.
• Ensure we are engaging government early and not being left behind as the agricultural sector prepares to respond

How Owners, Buyers, and Sellers Can Support Canadian Equine Businesses

• Choose Canadian-made equine products, such as feed, tack, and apparel, to help sustain local businesses.
• Work with Canadian breeders and trainers to support the domestic market for performance and breeding stock. Buy Canadian Horses
• Participate in and promote Canadian equestrian events and training programs. 
• Advocate for Canadian equine businesses by engaging with policymakers and supporting initiatives that strengthen the industry.

Increasing costs, and restricted access to key equine care inputs like feed creates the potential for animal welfare concerns. Ensuring that equine caretakers are resource planning an ensuring the ability to maintain appropriate care is addressed early and humanely.

Key Canadian Equine Businesses & Organizations

 Supporting Canadian and local businesses can help mitigate the impact of tariffs and strengthen Canada’s equine economy, and also support other Canadian agricultural businesses who supply goods to the Canadian equine sector.

This synopsis was provided by Kristy Laroche of Equine Register Canada, a national repository for equine data, providing a secure platform for horse owners, breeders, breed registries, microchip suppliers, sport organizations, and veterinarians.