Equestrian event aims to draw young Chinese

Horseback rider Ludger Beerbaum [Photo provided to China Daily]

A Sino-European equestrian seminar was held in Shanghai in April.

The high-profile Shanghai Longines Global Championship Tour gathered top horseback riders, equine trade professionals and trainers, including Ludger Beerbaum, four Olympic gold medalists from Germany, Marco Danese, director of the Longines championship tour, and Zhang Bin, a Chinese rider who participated in the 2008 Olympics.

The focus of this year's Shanghai seminar was on developing the country's young talents and laying a solid foundation for the sustainable development of the sport, says Sun Weimin, deputy director of the Shanghai Sports Bureau.

The event was also intended to work toward bringing China's equestrian sport in line with Europe.

Foreign experts shared their experiences in dealing with the risks involved in international horse trade, and Chinese officials explained the country's quarantine policies.

More than 10 equestrian clubs from Beijing and Shanghai, and the provinces of Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shandong attended the meeting.

With an increase in the popularity of equestrian activities in China in recent years, there are more than 900 such clubs in the country.