Abstract
China had the most horses in the world from 1961 to 2004 but, since the market-oriented economic transition started in the late 1970s, its horse population has declined significantly and steadily, from 11.50 million in 1978 to only 3.47 million in 2018. While there are minimal studies on China’s equine industries in the literature, this paper reviews the development of China’s equine industries since 1949, identifies major factors contributing to the steady decline in its horse population since 1978, and discusses the challenges and opportunities for the development of China’s equine industries. Empirical results suggest that the changes in China’s horse population since 1949 have been closely associated with its agricultural and rural development and policies, and the key factors contributing to the declining horse population since 1978 include agricultural mechanization, a steady decrease of the agricultural sector’s share in the GDP, urbanization, improvement in rural transportation with more motor vehicles, and decreased land availability for and the lack of economic returns from horses. Together, such factors may continue to reduce China’s horse population, but, on the other hand, the rapid development in the tourism, recreation, and sport sectors may provide potential growth opportunities. Moreover, China’s horse population is likely to be more concentrated in Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang, Tibet, and the western Sichuan province, which have relatively low population density and high proportion of ethnic population with the tradition of horses in their cultural, religious, sport, and economic activities. At the same time, equestrian events and activities are expected to continue to increase at significant rates in and around large Chinese cities.
Highlights
Horses have played very important roles in Chinese history and culture
China’s horse population is likely to be more concentrated in Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang, Tibet, and the western Sichuan province, which have relatively low population density and high proportion of minority ethnic population with the tradition of horses in their cultural, religious, sport, and economic activities
This paper has reviewed the development of China’s equine industries since 1949, identified major factors contributing to the steady decline in its horse population since 1978, and discussed the challenges and opportunities for the equine industries’ development
Summary
With the exception of the mythical dragon, horses are probably the most important and recurrent animal in Chinese culture, often acting as a symbol of speed, courage, integrity, diligence, perseverance, power, energy, leadership, and success [1,2,3]. In addition to their contributions to transportation and farming, horses were an important part of China’s military force and a determining factor of many changes in the country’s territories and borders. One interesting question is whether income and economic growth in the United States is a contributing factor of the steady increase in its horse population since the early 1960s and, if so, why the rapid income and economic growth in China since the late 1970s has likely contributed to the steady decline in its horse population
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