Equestrian Trail Riding: An Emerging Economic Contributor To The Local Rural Appalachian Economy

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is three-fold. First to summarize the importance of tourism in the Appalachian region with a focus on the State of Kentucky; second, to consider adventure tourism and the equestrian and trail riding segment as a potential contributor to Kentucky adventurism tourism; and third, to illustrate the economic value of trail riding in the form of an economic impact study which indicates levels of community economic development opportunity. Importantly, for this publication, is the fact that this research was conducted by undergraduate students at Berea College. This initial research was conducted by undergraduate within the Entrepreneurship for the Public Good Program at Berea College in the summer of 2008 and the economic impact study field work was conducted by freshman undergraduates in a Creative Writing class with a focus on adventure tourism in the fall of 2008.