First, let’s talk about the origins of equestrianism in China. As mentioned above, it flourished during the Zhou Dynasty and thrived in the Tang Dynasty. As a major horse culture nation, China has a 5,000-year history of horse culture. As early as over 2,000 years ago during the Han Dynasty, China had the sport of polo, and carvings depicting equestrian activities can still be seen on excavated Han Dynasty bricks. By the Tang Dynasty, polo was widespread across the land, even enjoyed by the emperor, and performances featuring dancing horses also emerged. During the Ming Dynasty, the Beijing area would hold events such as horse parades and mounted archery every spring. After the Qing Dynasty was established, horse racing became even more popular. The Manchu people, who were also highly skilled in horseback riding and archery, especially during the Qianlong era, built many racetracks in Beijing and held horse racing events during various folk festivals. People from nobility to ordinary banner soldiers were enthusiastic about this activity. By the late Qing Dynasty, as foreign powers opened China’s doors, and with embassies established in cities like Beijing and Tianjin, these powers set up numerous racetracks for entertainment, regularly holding races. However, at that time, Chinese people faced discrimination and were not allowed to join these clubs, and the few Chinese who could afford to participate were mostly wealthy individuals. Therefore, during the late Qing and early Republican period, although there were many racetracks in China, they had little to do with the Chinese people. Equestrianism at that time could be described as an era when the reins were firmly held by others. Yet, the transformations during this period can be said to have thoroughly revitalized China’s equestrian sports.
Moving forward, we come to China’s War of Resistance period. At that time, the world was focused on anti-fascism, leaving little energy for horse riding and leisure. Moreover, most horses were conscripted as military mounts, leaving very few available for recreational riding. After World War II, equestrian sports in Western countries rapidly developed alongside their national strength, with the majority of horses transitioning from military use to recreational riding. Meanwhile, in China, while others were advancing in equestrianism, we were caught up in our own decade-long civil war. Although it lasted only ten short years, we fell far behind.
Fast forward to the 1980s, when China’s equestrian sports could truly be considered to have begun developing. With the reform and opening-up initiated by Comrade Deng Xiaoping, along with the philosophy of “bringing in” and “going out,” China’s equestrianism caught the wave and rode toward the future.
But why does China’s equestrianism still remain in its infancy today? Let’s first analyze the current state of equestrianism in the country:
1. Equestrianism remains a vague concept in people’s minds. Some think that simply riding a horse and taking photos at a scenic spot counts as equestrianism, which shows that the general public does not pay much attention to it.
2. The high cost of equestrianism is still a major reason why many Chinese are reluctant to engage with it. The expense of receiving authentic equestrian training or purchasing a quality horse far exceeds that of golf.
3. The technical level of domestic coaches is generally below international standards. Laymen may enjoy the spectacle, but insiders understand the nuances. Currently, in China, there are far more spectators than those who truly understand the sport.
4. There is a vast demand for recreational horse riding, but the conditions of equestrian venues vary greatly. Some are of international standard but prohibitively expensive and few in number; others are just sandy grounds enclosed by steel pipes, with rudimentary facilities, mostly for personal amusement without any notable reputation or influence. Wu Lao, from China Equestrian Network, once said, “Northern stables are large but rough, while southern ones are small but refined.” I believe that if the north and south could learn from each other, the situation might improve significantly.
5. The professionalism of equestrian equipment is lacking. It is difficult to find top-tier equestrian gear brands in China, and even if available, few can afford them...
Although China’s equestrianism faces these challenges, with the country’s economic development and rising incomes, it still holds tremendous potential and promise. Here are my humble suggestions:
1. Promote equestrianism more among the general public, helping people better understand its benefits and joys, thereby establishing a solid foundation of public interest.
2. Host more equestrian performances or parades to allow people closer contact with and understanding of the sport.
3. Start equestrian training from childhood by establishing more international-level equestrian schools to nurture future leaders of Chinese equestrianism from a young age.
4. The government should introduce more policies conducive to the development of equestrianism, such as allowing horse racing in inland areas and appropriately relaxing relevant regulations. However, I believe this may also lead to various related social issues.
4. The government should introduce more policies conducive to the development of equestrianism, such as allowing horse racing in inland areas and appropriately relaxing relevant regulations. However, I believe this would also lead to many other corresponding social issues.
Moving forward, we come to China’s War of Resistance period. At that time, the world was focused on anti-fascism, leaving little energy for horse riding and leisure. Moreover, most horses were conscripted as military mounts, leaving very few available for recreational riding. After World War II, equestrian sports in Western countries rapidly developed alongside their national strength, with the majority of horses transitioning from military use to recreational riding. Meanwhile, in China, while others were advancing in equestrianism, we were caught up in our own decade-long civil war. Although it lasted only ten short years, we fell far behind.
Fast forward to the 1980s, when China’s equestrian sports could truly be considered to have begun developing. With the reform and opening-up initiated by Comrade Deng Xiaoping, along with the philosophy of “bringing in” and “going out,” China’s equestrianism caught the wave and rode toward the future.
But why does China’s equestrianism still remain in its infancy today? Let’s first analyze the current state of equestrianism in the country:
1. Equestrianism remains a vague concept in people’s minds. Some think that simply riding a horse and taking photos at a scenic spot counts as equestrianism, which shows that the general public does not pay much attention to it.
2. The high cost of equestrianism is still a major reason why many Chinese are reluctant to engage with it. The expense of receiving authentic equestrian training or purchasing a quality horse far exceeds that of golf.
3. The technical level of domestic coaches is generally below international standards. Laymen may enjoy the spectacle, but insiders understand the nuances. Currently, in China, there are far more spectators than those who truly understand the sport.
4. There is a vast demand for recreational horse riding, but the conditions of equestrian venues vary greatly. Some are of international standard but prohibitively expensive and few in number; others are just sandy grounds enclosed by steel pipes, with rudimentary facilities, mostly for personal amusement without any notable reputation or influence. Wu Lao, from China Equestrian Network, once said, “Northern stables are large but rough, while southern ones are small but refined.” I believe that if the north and south could learn from each other, the situation might improve significantly.
5. The professionalism of equestrian equipment is lacking. It is difficult to find top-tier equestrian gear brands in China, and even if available, few can afford them...
Although China’s equestrianism faces these challenges, with the country’s economic development and rising incomes, it still holds tremendous potential and promise. Here are my humble suggestions:
1. Promote equestrianism more among the general public, helping people better understand its benefits and joys, thereby establishing a solid foundation of public interest.
2. Host more equestrian performances or parades to allow people closer contact with and understanding of the sport.
3. Start equestrian training from childhood by establishing more international-level equestrian schools to nurture future leaders of Chinese equestrianism from a young age.
4. The government should introduce more policies conducive to the development of equestrianism, such as allowing horse racing in inland areas and appropriately relaxing relevant regulations. However, I believe this may also lead to various related social issues.
4. The government should introduce more policies conducive to the development of equestrianism, such as allowing horse racing in inland areas and appropriately relaxing relevant regulations. However, I believe this would also lead to many other corresponding social issues.