“The Town of Erin is not just part of horse country; it is horse country in many ways,” he told Council. “With more than 400 horse farms and over 5,000 horses, Erin sits at the heart of Wellington County and the Headwaters Central Counties Tourism region.”
Erin, Ontario - The Town of Erin Council unanimously passed a Notice of Motion on July 23, 2026, to support and grow the local equine economy. Introduced by Councillor Jamie Cheyne, the motion received strong support from the newly formed Ontario Horse Council through a presentation by Brian Tropea, General Manager of the Ontario Harness Horse Association (OHHA).
Speaking on behalf of the Ontario Horse Council and OHHA, Tropea said he was proud to support Erin’s leadership in recognizing one of its greatest economic and cultural assets.
“The Town of Erin is not just part of horse country; it is horse country in many ways,” he told Council. “With more than 400 horse farms and over 5,000 horses, Erin sits at the heart of Wellington County and the Headwaters Central Counties Tourism region.”
Tropea highlighted Erin’s many equine strengths, including Angelstone Equestrian Park, the Erin RAM Rodeo, Ontario High School Rodeo events, the Farmers’ Dash charity barrel race, and the long-running Erin Fall Fair, which has celebrated horses and agriculture since 1850. This year’s Erin Fair Equine Tent theme, “Warhorse,” will honour the horses and soldiers who served during the First World War and other conflicts, in recognition of the Royal Canadian Legion’s 100th anniversary.
These activities bring meaningful spending to local accommodations, restaurants, and services. Tropea also cited the 2025 Ontario Government Equine Economic Impact Study, which found that Ontario’s equine sector contributes $4.4 billion directly to the province’s GDP, supports 37,500 full-time jobs, and generates $8.2 billion in total economic output.
“The equine industry is the most labour-intensive form of agriculture, and it provides stable jobs that can’t be automated or outsourced,” Tropea said. “By adopting this resolution, Erin can build on its strong foundation and unlock additional opportunities.”
The July 23, 2026 resolution directs Town of Erin staff to:
• Advance priorities identified in the 2025/2026 Agriculture and Equine BR+E project and the April 23, 2026, presentation to Council;
• Engage with the Ontario Horse Alliance (OHA) on funding programs, industry trends, and relationship-building;
• Incorporate an equine sector development strategy into the Town’s 2027 budget; and
• Report back to Council with an implementation update and action plan by September 24, 2026.
Tropea said the newly incorporated Ontario Horse Council—guided by the message “One Voice. One Industry. One Horse.”—offers a strong platform for advocacy, funding access, skills training, and industry communication. “By supporting this motion, Council is investing in jobs, tourism, agriculture, and community identity,” he said. “The equine community is ready to partner with you every step of the way.”
The Ontario Horse Council and OHHA look forward to working with the Town of Erin to strengthen the community’s role as a premier equine destination in Ontario.
About the Ontario Horse Council
The Ontario Horse Council is a provincial not-for-profit organization working to unite Ontario's equine sectors, strengthen the industry's collective voice and advance shared priorities, bringing together participants from every breed and discipline — racing, sport, recreation, breeding, agriculture, education, tourism, veterinary medicine and equine-related businesses and services. Visit https://ontariohorsecouncil.ca/
Source: Ontario Horse Council