A recent report released by the Chinese Equestrian Association shows that more than ten universities across the country offer academic education or courses in equestrianism, horse racing, and related fields, with educational levels including postgraduate, undergraduate, and vocational programs.
In 2008, Wuhan Business College pioneered the establishment of a specialized direction in social sports focused on the horse racing industry, becoming the first in the nation to train university students in horse racing. Similar or related programs soon emerged at Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, China Agricultural University, and Qingdao Agricultural University. In 2011, Tianjin University of Sport collaborated with Wuhan Business College to launch a Master of Sports degree program in Equestrian Competition and Management, producing the first batch of domestic master's graduates in the horse industry.
Professor Xia Yunjian, Dean of the School of Sports and Equestrian Studies at Wuhan Business College, introduced that there are currently over 500 equestrian clubs nationwide, with more than 6 million horses. However, there is a shortage of professionals in China who understand, raise, train, or provide veterinary care for horses. The rise of equestrian education reflects universities' response to the development of the horse industry economy.
It is reported that the first batch of "equestrian textbooks" in China will appear in Wuhan. Two teaching materials compiled by the college's faculty, "Horse Care" and "Stable Management," have been completed and will be published within the year.