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Chinese interest in equine creating unique opportunity for Kansas and Nebraska

China’s growing equestrian market is creating opportunities for the equine industry in Kansas and Nebraska.

Tessa Beeman with the Kansas Department of Agriculture says a Chinese trade delegation recently toured several facilities to learn more about American Paint Horses.

“Some were boarding facilities that offer training and riding lessons. Some were small breeders that had some intriguing breeding pieces, and then we also stopped at a place where they educated the buyers about reproductive services at many of the stops and the value of quality breeding programs,” she says.

She tells Brownfield there could be new opportunities for Kansas to work with China in this unique market.

“China Agricultural University would like to partner with some U.S. universities to create an exchange program that would last two weeks and would feature field trips to nearby farms, riding schools and tourist attractions.” she says.

Beeman says the proposed program’s goal would be to share agricultural experiences and how those differentiate in each country.

The visit was co-hosted by the Kansas Department of Agriculture and the American Paint Horse Association (APHA).

Photo: courtesy Heather Lansdowne, Kansas Department of Agriculture