Future prospects – strong growth and development

Despite the major upheavals caused by the Covid pandemic, the Chinese equestrian market has demonstrated remarkable resilience and is once again poised for a period of exciting growth and development as the sector attracts new investment across all levels making it more accessible to a much wider audience.

China’s strong economic performance over recent decades has created a large and aspirational middle class who have the disposable income and time to invest in new sports and leisure activities. The country’s professional horse sports and leisure industry is directly benefiting from this trend given the country’s longstanding equine heritage, active national and regional government support, the sector’s increasingly high-profile and sophisticated image and its undoubted physical and mental health benefits for all participants.

Such is the interest in equine sports and leisure activities, new rider training facilities are emerging in cities across China including high growth locations such as Beijing and Shanghai. By providing convenient access to millions more people, this is also driving a growth in participation levels and demand for equine products and services.

It is generally accepted that the more than 1 million riding club members (pre-pandemic) are just the tip of the iceberg and strong future growth is virtually assured.

Over recent years, the impressive increase in club membership and the launch of new riding, training and breeding facilities across China, we are seeing a surge in sales for a full range of high-end products including quality horses, facility and riding equipment, clothing, accessories, training and equine nutrition and health care products and services. It is an ideal time for new international suppliers to enter the Chinese market and for existing suppliers to boost their market presence and sales.

With its substantial purchasing power and huge future potential, China should be a priority market for all suppliers and manufacturers of professional equine products and services.

Did you know that

● In just a decade after the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the number of equestrian clubs grew rapidly from 100 to 1,400 and by the end of 2019 it had risen to 2,160.

● The distribution of equestrian clubs is also becoming more widespread throughout the country with developments in Shanghai, Beijing, Jiangsu, Shandong, Zhejiang, Hebei, Hubei and Guangdong. The CHF team constantly monitor the market and are in contact with all the major riding facilities across China i.e. your future customers!

● The “National Fitness Plan (2016–2020)” highlighted equestrianism as a sport to be cultivated.

● More than 1.19 million people were registered at 2,000 equestrian clubs nationwide by 2019, an increase of more than 20 per cent in just two years.

● 90% of equestrian club members are under the age of 18 and female members are becoming the main consumers, a very healthy trend when projecting future growth.

● In 2019, the increase in the number of horses registered with equestrian clubs in China was 77,557 of which the number imported was 35,415, 26% higher than in 2018. The number of these horses owned by individuals was 23,655, of which 19,209 were imported from overseas.

● Many of the imported horses came from the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, France, UK, the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Japan.

● Equestrian tourism in China is currently experiencing significant growth, particularly driven by the country's rich cultural heritage and an increasing interest in outdoor leisure activities. The value of horse tourism is estimated to be worth over CNY60.0 billion ($8.4 billion) in 2022.

● China Equestrian Association reports that the country’s equestrian industry grew from RMB 90.9 billion in 2016 to RMB 138.3 billion in 2019, representing a 51% increase.