China's elite riding club launches equestrian education project

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‍China's top international riding club, Equuleus, in partnership with British Horse Society (BHS), signed an agreement and launched the British Horse Society Equestrian Education Project that aims to focus on education of professionals and riding clubs at all levels.

Britain’s Princess Anne, a rider and horse enthusiast all her life, witnessed the signing at the British Embassy in Beijing and met the capital's equestrian elites.

British Ambassador to China Barbara Woodward, British Princess Anne, and China's Olympic rider Alex Hua Tian witness as Wang Qiang, director of Equuleus Club and Lynn Petersen, CEO of BHS, sign the agreement to launch the BHS Education Project on July 4, 2017 in Beijing. /CGTN Photo

Talking about China's fast growing riding clubs, Princess Anne is confident that when she comes back, she will see a great progress in the equestrian industry.

In a CGTN Digital exclusive interview, Lynn Petersen, CEO of the BHS, described the agreement signing as “a very big moment” and “a turning point for equestrian in China."

Lynn Petersen, CEO of BHS, and Wang Qiang, director of Equuleus International Riding Club, speak at the British Embassy in Beijing, July 4, 2017. /CGTN Photo

"Horse welfare is very important, our goal is to educate professional trainers and stable managers to care for their horses with the respect horses so richly deserve," Petersen said.

Wang Qiang, director and general manager of Equuleus and Equestrian Manager at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, also stressed the importance of education in equestrian.

Pu Cunxin, chairman of the China Theatre Association, also a horse enthusiast, talks to British Princess Anne accompanied by Wang Qiang, director of Equuleus International Riding Club. /CGTN Photo

"Without a growing cohort of correct, safe and fun trainers, the sport will struggle to develop both at grassroots and at the top levels," Wang stated.

Alex Hua Tian, goodwill ambassador of the BHS, also China's one and only Olympic event rider, said the project means safety and confidence for riders, instructors, parents, and horses as BHS is the most internationally recognized equestrian education program today.

Goodwill ambassador and China's only Olympic event rider, Alex Hua Tian, speaks at the BHS Education Project launch ceremony in Beijing, July 4, 2017. /CGTN Photo

"Riders, instructors who do their BHS stages, their riding exams, their teaching exams, will be able to ride and teach in places all around the world. This brings the Chinese equestrian industry into global equestrian industry. That to me is a very exiting step,” Hua told CGTN.

By the end of 2016, the number of Chinese equestrian clubs rose to 907. From 2015 to 2016, 100 new equestrian clubs opened across China, according to data from the China Horse Fair.

The number of new riders is also increasing. The average annual growth rate of club memberships in China is up 33 percent, reaching 270,000 members by the end of 2016.

"At the moment, because the industry is still quite small, it's not too much of a problem. But as it grows exponentially in the future, without this hole being filled, I worry a lot about the future industry, this is why I'm so excited about the BHS," Hua said.

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