Korea Racing Authority and Rural Development Administration Join Forces for Horse Industry Development... Expansion of Equine-Assisted Therapy Program

Korea Racing Authority and Rural Development Administration Sign MOU for 'Development of the Horse and Livestock Industries'


Building a Collaborative System Linking Riding Horses and Hot Air-Dried Hay

The Korea Racing Authority and the Rural Development Administration have decided to expand equine-assisted therapy services, reflecting the increasing demand for mental health management and therapeutic agriculture as Korea enters a super-aged society.

On April 24, the Rural Development Administration and the Korea Racing Authority signed a business agreement for the development of the horse industry and livestock sector. Through this agreement, the two organizations will cooperate across the entire horse industry, including the development and field dissemination of customized therapy programs, expansion of demonstration, training, and distribution of riding horses, and the establishment of a production and distribution base for domestically produced hot air-dried hay.

Lee Seungdon, President of the Rural Development Administration (left), and Woo Heejong, Chairman of the Korea Racing Authority, are taking a commemorative photo after signing a memorandum of understanding for the development of the horse industry and livestock sector on the 24th. Rural Development Administration Photo by Rural Development Administration

Heejong Woo, Chairman of the Korea Racing Authority, stated, "I expect that our research achievements in the horse industry will be disseminated to the field more rapidly through cooperation with the Rural Development Administration," adding, "We will actively work together to expand horse industry services that are tangible to the public and to strengthen the competitiveness of the industry."

Specifically, the National Institute of Animal Science under the Rural Development Administration will develop and verify the effectiveness of integrated programs that combine equine-assisted therapy and horticulture. Based on this, the institute plans to establish a scientific foundation by developing therapy models and evaluation indices. In addition, it will lay the groundwork for the practical use of riding horses by developing training, taming, field adaptability evaluations, and utilization technologies, as well as developing production technologies for domestically produced hot air-dried hay to be supplied to horse farms and verifying their usability.

The Korea Racing Authority will promote and disseminate equine-assisted therapy programs, support the industrialization of therapy services, and provide resources and field demonstration platforms related to horses. Furthermore, it plans to support the dissemination and expansion of the industry base by revitalizing the use and industrialization of riding horses and establishing a system for the distribution and supply of domestically produced hot air-dried hay.

Additionally, through cooperation in the production and distribution of domestically produced hot air-dried hay, the organizations plan to secure a stable feed supply base for horse farms and increase the industrial utilization of such products.

Seungdon Lee, President of the Rural Development Administration, stated, "This agreement marks an important starting point for establishing a new growth foundation for the horse industry by linking research and development with the industrial field. Based on the expertise of both organizations, we will produce tangible results such as the expansion of equine-assisted therapy, vitalization of the riding horse industry, and increased use of domestic forage."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.