Elegance, excitement, excellence — these are the hallmarks of the Del Mar National Horse Show, one of the oldest and most prestigious equestrian competitions in the United States.

The horse industry in the U.S. contributes more than $39 billion in direct economic impact and generates about $102 billion in total spending, according to a detailed economic impact study (the Economic Impact of the Horse Industry in the U.S. was conducted by Deloitte Consulting in 2005, commissioned by the American Horse Council.)

Further, there are about 9.2 million horses in the U.S. The recreational segment accounts for $32 billion of the total economic impact, followed by the horse show segment at $28.8 billion. Fifteen states account for more than 51-percent of the U.S. horse population; California ranks second in horse ownership. In terms of total effect on the U.S. gross domestic product, California leads the way at $6.97 billion a year.