(Yicai) Oct. 9 -- The second International Horse Culture Week, featuring competitions, forums, a lifestyle market, and other events, has officially concluded in Shanghai.

Large crowds of residents and tourists attended the International Horse Culture Week at the Shanghai Juss International Equestrian Center from Sept. 30 to yesterday, experiencing the charm of equestrian sports up close.

The International Horse Culture Week held several competitions, including the Maybach International Charity Dressage Show, the China Equestrian Tour, the City Polo China Open, the China Young Horse Show Jumping CSIYH 1*, and the Shanghai J&Y Equestrian Tour, which saw 382 horse rider pairs from about 40 clubs across 14 countries and regions participating.

The State Council designated equestrian sports as a key focus of China’s sports industry in 2014. Since then, Chen Qi, president of the France-China Equestrian Association and founder of Theo Sports, has seen significant opportunities.

At the policy level, Shanghai aims for its equestrian industry to achieve an output value of over CNY5 billion (USD707 million) by 2032 and to establish a comprehensive talent development system from grassroots education to professional competition.

“The European market is already saturated, so making breakthroughs is challenging,” Chen noted. “But China is in a period of opportunities.”

Market demand is a key driver. Various segments of the equestrian industry, from horse breeding and trading to professional equipment manufacturing and equine medical services, offer immense market potential and room for innovation, Chen pointed out. For example, the International Horse Culture Week had an equine supply station to support the competition.

In the digital age, equestrian sports create a unique setting for deep emotional connections between humans and animals, offering irreplaceable social value, Chen explained. Examples include horse-riding trips in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region that attract urban dwellers, equestrian family tours in Europe to boost tourism spending, and the introduction of horses in autism rehabilitation programs.

As the only Olympic sport without gender distinctions, equestrianism provides a unique platform for all. Looking ahead to the 2028 Olympics, Chen said that equestrian sports have the potential to become another pride of China’s sports industry, just like skiing and tennis in recent years.

Editor: Futura Costaglione