Horse fair marks China's ride into equestrianism

The 2007 China International Horse Fair and International Horse Industry & Equestrianism Exhibition - the first of its kind in China - was held in the Shanghai East Asia Exhibition Hall last week. The event was organized by the Shanghai Hope Exhibition Co and sponsored by the Chinese Horse Industry Association.

Exhibitors from about 28 countries and regions displayed more than 600 kinds of products such as harnesses, saddles, and horse-riding apparel and accessories. Hundreds of Chinese manufacturers and professionals from horse grassland studs, horse clubs, and professional sports teams attended the exhibition.

This marks the beginning of China's foray into international equestrian events. Despite China's 5,000-year history of horse culture, Chinese horse riders will make their first appearance in the Olympic equestrian competition in 2008.

Gu Jingxuan, manager of Qingdao Saddle Co Ltd, said he didn't know that there were so many equestrian clubs in China.

"After this horse fair, setting up a domestic sales department in China will make us develop much faster since we only exported abroad before," he said.

Eighty percent of horse products made by Chinese manufacturers are exported to Europe and America.

Hang Guocai, vice-president of China Horse Industry Association, said the horse fair provided a nice platform for promoting the Chinese horse industry.

According to the International Olympic Committee rules, the Olympic-hosting nation can field a maximum six horses, as long as they reach the Olympic qualification standards. China's entry into horseracing may be good for the sport nationally, but China will find itself lagging behind such equestrian giants as Germany and France.

Even still, the Chinese horse industry now attracts the most attention of anyone on the international stage.

China's equestrian market is increasing by 40 percent every year and Beijing has more than 80 horse clubs. But the main factor keeping Chinese from participating in horse-riding sports is that people are afraid of getting hurt. To address this concern, HKM Sports Equestrian brought a hi-tech horse-riding machine to the event, which teaches people how to ride horses correctly to maximize enjoyment.

The Olympic equestrian competition of 2008 Beijing Games will be held in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region due to quarantine problems.

China Daily

(China Daily 11/06/2007 page22)