The horse riding market in Italy

The equestrian market encompasses all economic activities related to the practice, support and management of the equestrian world, including on the one hand the purchase, care and training of horses (feeding, veterinary, farriery, stables, transportation), and on the other hand the system of sport and recreational riding (technical equipment, clothing, riding stables, equestrian centers, lessons and competitions). Also included in this market are services for breeding, saddlery, rehabilitation and hippotherapy, fairs and equestrian tourism activities. Italy represents one of the most consolidated European markets in terms of the number of registered horses and the spread of horseback riding among adults, young people and professionals, with a highly fragmented economic system with strong territorial connotations.

Globally, the horseback riding-related market is estimated at more than $300 billion, of which about $100 billion is generated by the sports and recreational sector alone. In Europe, there are about 6 million horses and more than 20 million practitioners, with a direct and induced supply chain generating about 100 billion euros. In Italy, according to the Istat Census 2021, there are more than 147,000 registered horses, with a network of more than 6,200 equestrian centers affiliated with federations or recognized bodies, and an estimated number of 500,000 practitioners (including agonists, amateurs and occasional riders). The total value of the sector exceeds 2 billion euros, considering the sales of products, services, lessons, events and tourism activities related to horses.

The structure of the Italian market is divided into three main axes:

Sport horseback riding: dominated by FISE (Italian Equestrian Sports Federation), which in 2022 had about 123,000 members and 1,678 affiliated clubs, with strong growth in show jumping, dressage and full riding.

Recreational and amateur riding: more fragmented, also regulated by bodies such as SEF Italia, ENGEA, ACSI, with hundreds of riding schools and trekking centers.

Technical and commercial supply chain: includes manufacturers and retailers of saddlery, technical clothing, feed, supplements, transportation services, care and retirement of horses.

Prices vary widely: a sport horse can cost between €3,000 and more than €50,000, a professional saddle between €1,200 and €5,000, a certified riding helmet between €80 and €400, while individual lessons cost on average between €20 and €45 per hour. Monthly expenditures for the care of a horse (stabling, feeding, veterinarian) range between 300 and 800 €, with higher peaks for competition horses.

The sector is supported by major fairs and sporting events (such as Fieracavalli Verona, Jumping Verona, Longines Global Champions Tour), and by an economic fabric that crosses tourism, made-in-Italy craftsmanship (saddlery, boots, clothing), health (hippotherapy), sustainability (ethical breeding) and digitalization (booking and tracking platforms). The overall supply chain (tourism, food, wellness, transportation, care) is very significant but difficult to quantify homogeneously, as it is a sector with a strong informal and partially undeclared component.

At the regulatory level, the sector is regulated by European and national standards related to animal welfare (EU Reg. 2017/625, Legislative Decree 146/2001), sports safety, highway code (for trekking), and occupational safety for those working in stables and stables. Italy has also recognized the horse as a national cultural heritage (Law 160/2019), with implications for promotion, protection, and facilitation.