Domestic industry galloping toward greener pastures

Last weekend's Shanghai Longines Global Champions Tour provided China's burgeoning equestrian scene with another vital shot in the arm.

"Since 2014, the event has been attracting the top riders from China and all over the world, and has become an extravaganza for equestrian-loving people," said Zhang Xingmin, deputy director of Shanghai Sports Bureau.

"Also, the Sino-Europe Horse Industry Exchange Seminar held each year in conjunction with the event has become an important meeting for the equestrian industry globally and helps bring more energy to China's equestrian development."

The seminar attracts thousands of athletes, experts and businessmen to Shanghai each year as China seeks to grow its equestrian market.

"The tour plays a more and more significant role as a platform," said Gong Deqing, chairman of the Board of Shanghai Jiushi (Group) Co. Ltd, parent company of the event's organizer - Shanghai Juss Sports Development Co. Ltd.

"Meanwhile, the organizing model, which integrates a top global sport, high-quality exhibition and a high-end international forum, has been gradually established and widely acclaimed."

Patrick Yang, deputy general manager of Shanghai Juss Sports, also hailed the Shanghai stop as key to equestrian's development here.

"Over the past few years we've seen the competition has gained popularity and influence among the public as well as the equestrian industry," said Yang.

"We just want every fan to enjoy the charm of an international equestrian tournament."

Industry numbers show the sport is making major strides here.

There were about 906 equestrian clubs around China in 2016. A year and a half later, the number had jumped into 1,452. Moreover, in 2017, membership of China's equestrian clubs topped one million, among which 52 percent are active members.

The rising participation rates are creating a spike in demand for related businesses.

In 2014, Liu Huahua started her own saddlery brand in a 30 square-meter shop in Beijing. Three years later, she has expanded her shop to 260 square meters and opened another branch in Shanghai.

"At the very beginning, we were not profitable at all," said Liu. "Later on, things changed. In 2014, our sales revenue was one million yuan ($160,000), but in 2017, that number became 10 million."

According to Liu, there were only five to ten saddlery companies operating in China when she launched her business, but today there are about 50.

However, China's equestrian market still has a long way to go to catch up with Europe.

"Take the equestrian industry in Shanghai as an example - we still need to improve in many aspects," said Cheng Keqiang, director of Shanghai Equestrian Management Center.

"We still need to make more policies to guarantee the sport's development.

"Also we need to have a more open market and better equestrian products. Meanwhile, we should develop an equestrian culture here in China."