Research Reports
A Study on the Present State and Development Strategies of the Horse Industry
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AuthorJi, Inbae
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Publication Date2015.11.30
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Original
Background of Research
The Korean government has nurtured the horse industry to develop it into a new income source of rural areas in response to a decrease in agricultural income due to the continued progress of FTAs. Nevertheless, despite the government's active policies to foster the sector, many problems in the field, including insufficient policy support, a limit to expanding demand for riding, and various regulations, have limited the growth of the horse industry. Therefore, this study identifies the problems of the current horse industry and policies for promoting the sector, and presents the direction for its development and detailed plans to develop the industry into a new growth engine of agriculture and rural regions.
Method of Research
For this study, we first reviewed the literature and laws on the horse sector. A survey was conducted on 29 horse farms and 52 horse riding facilities to examine the present state and problems of the industry. We also surveyed 355 consumers of 14 equestrian centers across the country to analyze consumers' demand for riding, and performed conjoint analysis. We commissioned an external expert to write a section on some contents. In addition, we participated in many external seminars on horses, and held several research council meetings attended by domestic specialists, related policymakers, horse breeding farms, and equestrian centers.
Research Results & Implication
The current horse industry has the following problems: 1) the safety issue and distrust of the circulation market owing to the use of racehorses as riding horses; 2) lack of saddle horses; 3) insufficient indoor horse riding facilities and outdoor equestrian trails; and 4) shortages of horse breeding and horse riding training experts. The issues in the policies for nurturing the horse industry are as follows: 1) approval for horse riding facilities and farmland conversion; 2) an inadequate supply system of saddle horses; 3) an oversupply of Halla horses; and 4) the problem of equestrian centers' electric charges.
To solve these problems of the horse sector, this research set the direction for its development like the following eight items: development of the horse industry into a high value-added industry; balanced growth of supply and demand; separate development of horse racing and riding; vitalization of children's horse riding; deregulation for the growth of the equestrian industry; selection and concentration focusing on actual demand; popularization and sixth industrialization of horse riding; and establishment of a cooperation system with relevant ministries for promoting riding.
As for detailed measures to nurture the horse industry, in the institutional aspect, we suggested increasing regions that can construct equestrian centers and rural horse riding facilities, applying electric charges for agricultural use to equestrian centers, and expanding support for places with high demand. For the establishment of the supply system of saddle horses, we proposed importing excellent riding horses, using Halla horses for riding, supporting management consulting for horse farms and equestrian centers, increasing horse training centers, and adopting traceability and auction systems of riding horses. To vitalize children's riding for a rise in demand for horse riding, it is necessary to set up a department in charge of the promotion of children's riding, establish a council for nurturing the equestrian industry, found a youth club for horse riding in each region, promote local equestrian competitions, include riding in the regular school curriculum of physical education, introduce certification systems for horse riding facilities and equestrian abilities. Additionally, it is needed to foster experts in horse breeding and equestrian education and to improve the insurance system. Last, we presented a mid- and long-term road map for the ways to promote the horse industry, considering the urgency and priority of these detailed policy measures.
Researchers: Ji Inbae, Kim Hyunjoong, Seo Gangcheol
Research Period: 2015. 1.～2015. 8.
E-mail address: jiinbae@krei.re.kr
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