China's ambition to join the upper echelon of the global equine industry won't be realized overnight, but the country has been working hard to occupy a place in the traditionally Western-dominated industry.

The 2017 International Horse Industry Summit was held from Oct 24 to 26 in the eastern coastal city of Qingdao, Shandong province, to discuss the development of China's horse industry and build a cooperation and exchange platform for the global equine industry.

Organized by the Qingdao municipal bureau of sports, the Qingdao City Construction Investment Group and the influential bimonthly magazine Horsemanship, the summit promoted communication between domestic and foreign equine enterprises and agencies on the way to improving China's equine industry.

Attendees exchange ideas during the 2017 International Horse Industry Summit held from Oct 24 to 26 in the eastern coastal city of Qingdao, Shandong province. [Photo by Hu Yaojie/ chinanews.com]

More than 300 experts and elites were invited to the summit, specializing in fields such as horse breeding, equestrian education, racecourse master planning, equestrian club operation and horse-racing organizing.

Lynn Petersen, chief executive of the British Horse Society (BHS), Erik Grandiere, chairman of the UNIC French Horse Connexion, Norbert Camp, chairman of the Trakehner Association and Timothy Court, designer of Sydney 2000 and Beijing 2008 Olympic equestrian venues, were all in attendance.

Lynn Petersen, chief executive of the British Horse Society (BHS), delivers a keynote speech during the 2017 International Horse Industry Summit. [Photo/ sina.com.cn]

Several themes were discussed during the summit, including "Operating a World Class Horse Park", "Link Between Sports and Breeding", "How to Choose a Racing Horse with Exceptional Abilities", "30 Years of China Horse Racing", "How to Operate a Successful Equestrian Club" and "The Importance of Master planning: Key Design Criteria".

With China's economic rise there is burgeoning interest in equestrian sport, with riding clubs now available in most major cities. The development of the industry is creating markets for a wide range of products, from live horses for riding and breeding, to feed products and support services.

Beatrice Fletcher, special correspondent of French equine magazine L'EPERON, delivers a keynote speech during the 2017 International Horse Industry Summit. [Photo/ sina.com.cn]

According to statistics from Horsemanship magazine, China had 1,425 horse clubs as of mid-2017, up from just 102 in 2008. Imports of live horses by the country's equestrian clubs for entertainment and competition are also on the rise.

"China's equine industry is developing fast thanks to the country's dedicatory and sapient practitioners. I hope this summit will help to invigorate new vitality to the development of China's equine industry as well as boost its profile in the global market," said Peter Winton, an international equestrian and sports consultant from Australia.

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