Montana's Horse Industry

Updated: January 26, 2026

Montana's horse industry remains an important part of the state's agriculture, recreation, and cultural identity, with roughly 130,000–130,000+ horses in the state when both registered and unregistered animals are included. American Quarter Horses are still the favorite breed for ranch work because of their build, agility, and strong "cow sense," but Montana horse owners also keep many other breeds for work, sport, and pleasure.

Horses and breeds in Montana

Recent national estimates suggest Montana has on the order of 130,000 horses (about 130,000 head reported in one 2025 equine data set), with many used on ranches, small acreages, and recreational properties. About 129,997 horses in Montana were counted in a 2025 national compilation, and thousands are registered with breed associations such as the American Quarter Horse Association, Appaloosa Horse Club, Arabian Horse Association, and American Paint Horse Association. In addition to Quarter Horses, other breeds found in Montana include Morgans, Thoroughbreds, Tennessee Walking Horses, Miniature Horses, Norwegian Fjords, mustangs, Warmbloods, Shetland Ponies, Andalusians, Paso Finos, and draft breeds such as Percherons, Clydesdales, and Belgians.

Different breeds tend to be used for different purposes. Draft horses and draft crosses are still used for pulling heavy loads, sleighs, and wagons, especially in demonstrations, on some ranches, and in areas with deep winter snow. Quarter Horses are widely used for ranch work, cattle gathering, and roping, while Thoroughbreds and various Warmbloods are valued for racing, jumping, and other English-style sports.

Uses of horses today

Across the United States, most horses are now used for recreation rather than farming, and this pattern holds in Montana as well. For roughly two centuries, farmers and ranchers depended on horses for plowing, haying, hauling, and transportation, but today tractors, trucks, and machinery do much of that work; even so, some Montana ranches still use horse teams to pull hay wagons in winter because teams can move through deep snow and rough terrain where machines may struggle. Saddle horses remain essential on many cow-calf operations for gathering and moving cattle between pastures, working cattle in rough country, and handling livestock in areas where motorized vehicles are impractical.

Horses were first brought to North America by Spanish explorers in the 1500s, and their spread northward onto the Great Plains transformed the lives of many Native nations, who used them to hunt bison and travel more efficiently. Later, settlers relied on horses and mules to pull covered wagons west and used them for stagecoaches, freight wagons, and farm work until motor vehicles became common.

Basic horse terminology and breeding

"Equine" is the scientific term for animals in the horse family, and an "equestrian" is a person who rides or works with horses. A stallion is an intact (not castrated) adult male horse, while a gelding is a male that has been castrated; geldings are generally calmer and more predictable under saddle and are the most commonly ridden horses. A mare is an adult female horse, and her pregnancy (gestation) typically lasts about 11 months, or roughly 340 days. A young male horse is called a colt, and a young female is called a filly, though people often (incorrectly) use "colt" to describe foals of either sex.

Feeding and digestion

Domestic horses need more regular care than most grazing livestock, because they have more sensitive digestive systems and a relatively small stomach. Bands of wild or free-roaming horses (often called mustangs) on Western rangelands can survive without direct human care, but domestic horses depend on people for feed, water, hoof care, and shelter. Horses eat grass, hay, and grain or commercial pelleted feeds; animals kept mostly indoors or in small pens often receive mainly hay and grain, while horses on pasture graze much of the year and are fed hay or other forage during winter. An adult horse can easily drink 10 to 15 gallons of water per day in moderate weather, and even more during hot weather or heavy work, so ready access to clean water is essential.

Horses are hindgut fermenters: they have a single-chambered stomach and a large cecum and colon where microbes help break down fiber, unlike cattle and sheep, which have four-chambered stomachs. Because horses do not ruminate, they need high-quality forage and do best when they can eat frequent small meals rather than one or two large feedings; this steady intake helps keep their digestive system functioning properly and reduces the risk of colic and other digestive problems.

Hoof and dental care

Healthy hooves and teeth are critical to overall horse health and performance. Many horses that are ridden or driven on hard or rocky ground wear horseshoes, which are U-shaped metal (or sometimes synthetic) plates nailed to the outer part of the hoof to protect it and improve traction. Because the hoof wall grows continuously, farriers typically trim hooves and reset or replace shoes every 6 to 8 weeks, though intervals vary with growth rate, terrain, and workload. The tough outer hoof wall is similar to a human fingernail, so properly placed nails do not hurt the horse.

Horses' teeth also require periodic attention. Horses grind feed mostly with a side-to-side chewing motion, which can create sharp enamel points on the edges of their cheek teeth; these points can interfere with chewing, cause mouth sores, and lead to weight loss or performance issues. To correct this, equine dentists or veterinarians "float" the teeth, using specialized rasps or power tools to smooth sharp points and even out chewing surfaces so the horse can eat comfortably.

The broader horse economy

Nationally, the 2023 American Horse Council study estimated about 6.65 million horses in the United States and reported that the horse industry adds about 177 billion dollars in total economic value and supports approximately 2.2 million jobs when direct and indirect effects are included. Montana, with its large ranching sector, public lands, and tourism economy, participates in this broader industry through ranch horses, recreational riding, rodeo and horse events, equine-assisted programs, and a network of veterinarians, farriers, trainers, feed suppliers, and tourism businesses built around horses.

• 2025 Weather Survey for Horse Owners in the US
• 14 Best Horse Breeds That Are a Cowgirl’s Best Companion
• American Horse Council: Economic impact study
• Morning AgClips: Results from the 2023 National Equine Economic Impact Study Released
• BLM Wild Horse and Burro Program
• USDA MONTANA AGRICULTURAL FACTS 2023
• Montana Department of Commerce 2024 Horse Racing Annual Report

Updated: January 26, 2026