According to RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL, an International market research company, there are now more than 400,000 amateur riders and 9 million horses in China and   investment in the country’s equine industry is increasing at 15% to 20% every year. When compared to previous years, 2015 saw the fastest development in the Chinese equine market and many industry analysts believe this trend will continue through 2016.    

More horses have and will be imported into China

There are currently about 9 million horses in China and since 2012 more than 2,000 horses have been imported into China. According to Chinese customs statistics, the purchase of horses from overseas is increasing year by year.

From 2008 New Zealand has been able to export horses to China on a zero tariff and since 2012 the Inner Mongolia Rider Horse Group has imported 832 horses from New Zealand, creating a new horse import record in China. Last year in September, the China Horse Club spent 12.14 million RMB to buy a one year old horse at the Irish Thoroughbred Auction. Recently 6 buyers from mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macao spent 21.63 million RMB at the New Zealand Karanka 2 year old thoroughbred auction, accounting for 22% of the total amount of sales at the auction. Among these Chinese buyers, Inner Mongolia Rider Horse Group and China Horse Club spent the most, about 9.67 million RMB.

In 2015, leading clubs in China, such as Inner Mongolia Rider Horse Group  and China Horse Club, have started to purchase high quality horses to participate in horse racing competitions overseas. ‘Mongolia Khan’ from Rider Horses and ‘Alpina’ , ‘Dissident’, and ‘Beat of the Drum’ from China Horse Club won champion trophies in New Zealand, Australia and America this year, which will undoubtedly encourage more and more local clubs to purchase high quality racing horses and participate at competitions internationally. 

To capitalize on the growing Chinese market, the horse export tariff from Australia decreased from 10% to 8% on 20th December 2015, and will decrease 2% annually from then on. In 2019, there will be no tariff for horse export from Australia to China.

More Equestrian Clubs were established in China

According to statistics from the Beijing Equestrian Association, there are more than 500 equestrian clubs in China, and about 200 ones are located in Beijing. Over recent years, 10 new equestrian clubs are being established annually in Beijing alone.

Across China we saw many more equestrian clubs established in 2015 including the Nanjing Jin Ling Ma Hui International Equestrian Club which owns 30 horses of different breeds. Some RMB60 Million was spent on building the biggest equestrian club in Nanjing City. The most expensive horse in the club is a Dutch warm-blood horse which is worth RMB82 Million and the stock also includes German warm-blood horses worth RMB2.0 million.

The Iponey International Youth Cavaliers Academy was founded in Beijing and is the first French Equestrian training organisation in China. They are now the owners of 40 ponies from France.

Other clubs opened included the Shanghai Bin Dao International Equestrian Club and in Ningbo, RMB600 million was invested to build Zhejiang Ma Hui Equestrian Club which covers an area of 0.4 million sqm. It will one of China’s super equestrian clubs.

More local competitions have been announced in China

Although gambling is not currently allowed in mainland China, 2015 saw developments particularly in horse racing activities.

In July there were new competitions organised at the new racing circuit built by the Inner Mongolia Rider Horse Group and that same month the first national level horse racing meet was successfully organised by China Horse Industry Association in Xinjiang. In September, the CECF Horse Racing Festival, launched three years ago by China Horse Club, took take place for the fourth time in Wuhan at the Orient Horse City International Racing Circuit. The festival is a horse racing competition with no gambling and for the first time, the China Horse Club and Orient Lucky Horse Group organised the Festival jointly.

The Chinese Equestrian Association and Hong Kong Jockey Club signed a strategic cooperation agreement at a press conference which took place in September in Beijing. Over the next five years, the Hong Kong Jockey Club will provide horse racing competitions organised by the Chinese Equestrian Association, with professional technical support. The Hong Kong Jockey Club will help to adapt the rules to suit the development of the competitions and will support the Chinese Equestrian Association to develop the horse racing market in China and increase international awareness of these competitions.   
 
2016 will see the continued development of horse racing in China. The Inner Mongolia Horse Rider Group is planning to organise the biggest horse racing Carnival which includes 18 competitions in China during July.

Besides horse racing, other kinds of competitions also developed in China in 2015. In  June 2015, for the first time, the FEI Equestrian Endurance Competition was organised in China with 100 riders participating. The FEI Equestrian Endurance Competition places major importance on horse welfare, so related medical equipment was used for horse pulse testing. In July 2015 the Horse Owner Equestrian Competition, was for the first time organised in Shanghai with 36 riders participating. The prize money for the Beijing Equestrian Masters competition which took place in October in Beijing, set a new record.

More international suppliers interested in Chinese Equine Market

Recognising the huge development potential of the Chinese equine market, leading international suppliers have competed to enter into the market.    

In May 2015, the Australian Kylin Horse Co announced that they are entering the Chinese market and is creating an online investment platform for race horses.

Two months ago, in Beijing, the Spanish Equestrian Association (ANCCE) announced it would cooperate with a Chinese media company - cchorse.com, to support the communication between the Chinese and Spanish equine markets. 
 
For 2016, Australian Magic Million is planning to sponsor a series of competitions in China, while Inglis another auction company from Australia is going to support Chinese competitions.

Additionally, New Zealand Thoroughbred Co. has decided to organise competitions in Inner Mongolia in 2016.