China is set to become the biggest equestrian market in the world in the decade to come. That's as more middle class families with children take up the sport. But this is more than a story about China's rising middle class. The sport's growth is also thanks to shifting attitudes to education.
Ambling and capering, horse riding is gradually picking up its rhythm in China. Trainers and breeders from all over the world showed off their best steeds at a recent Horse Sports and Leisure industry exhibition in Beijing.
"I came from Russia, I've lived in Beijing for five years. This is an Akhal-teke horse, I brought it especially for this exhibition. I think the Chinese market is the best horse market in the world," said Nadya Kozinets, Chief Rep., LTD Gandikap.
Strong demand for horses in China has already drive up imports.
"China imports thousands of horses every year, with the quality of the horses improving. It shows the market is growing very fast, and the level of equestrians is also rapidly climbing," said Gong Yan, Board Director, Hanwushifang Sports Equestrian Tech.
What sits behind this sudden spurt in demand is the rising popularity among Chinese children to learn how to ride horses. Vanessa Vandevraye comes from France. She's been teaching equestrian to kids in Beijing for five years.
"My family has always managed equestrian clubs abroad. What got me to China is the challenge to teach them what is horse-back riding. We have2,000 students and try to extend equestrian to the whole school," She said.
"Chinese parents show bigger and bigger interest because they really like what it can give to the kids. Empathy towards animal. The responsibility and leadership, and the sports."
Nowadays Chinese parents have become less rigid in requesting that their children achieve high grades. Instead, they focus more and more on a quality education.
"We chose to come to horse riding classes for the simple reason that our daughter loves it. And it's a sport that requires communications and cooperation between humans and horses," said Zhang Yurong, Senior Partner, Dacheng Law Offices.
"It makes equestrian more than just a sport. Kids can learn to communicate with a partner that doesn't talk. This will make her more considerate and understanding."
The history of training and riding horses in China dates back more than 3000 years to the Shang Dynasty. Horse riding was one of six noble arts in Ancient China but was gradually phased out because of the rise in modern agriculture.
It was only after the 2008 Beijing Olympics that Western equestrian riding started to pick up pace in China. Now it's growing by leaps and bounds.
Chen Che is the head of the Beijing Turf and Equestrian Association.
"At the end of 2008, we had about 100 horse clubs in China. That number rose to 823 by 2015. But until October of this year, that figure has quickly climbed to 907. That shows that the equestrian industry has entered a fast track in China, and is seeing explosive growth," he said.
Chen said China is expected to become the biggest equestrian market in the world in the next decade or two.
"The growth of the equestrian market needs a stable and massive consumer base which is precisely what China has. Experts in the industry all agree that China will become the biggest consumer market in horse riding, in the next 10 to 20 years," he said.
It appears China's equestrian industry will grow together with this generation of young riders.
