Self-organized equestrian practitioners: key characteristics and needs

Camille Eslan (), Céline Vial (), Sandrine Costa () and Vu Hoang Ha Pham ()
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Camille Eslan: UMR MoISA - Montpellier Interdisciplinary center on Sustainable Agri-food systems (Social and nutritional sciences) - Cirad - Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement - IRD - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement - CIHEAM-IAMM - Centre International de Hautes Etudes Agronomiques Méditerranéennes - Institut Agronomique Méditerranéen de Montpellier - CIHEAM - Centre International de Hautes Études Agronomiques Méditerranéennes - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement - Institut Agro Montpellier - Institut Agro - Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement, IFCE - Institut Français du Cheval et de l'Equitation [Saumur], Pôle développement innovation et recherche [Arnac-Pompadour] - IFCE - Institut Français du Cheval et de l'équitation [Arnac-Pompadour], FFE - Fédération Française d'Equitation
Céline Vial: Pôle développement innovation et recherche [Arnac-Pompadour] - IFCE - Institut Français du Cheval et de l'équitation [Arnac-Pompadour], IFCE - Institut Français du Cheval et de l'Equitation [Saumur], UMR MoISA - Montpellier Interdisciplinary center on Sustainable Agri-food systems (Social and nutritional sciences) - Cirad - Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement - IRD - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement - CIHEAM-IAMM - Centre International de Hautes Etudes Agronomiques Méditerranéennes - Institut Agronomique Méditerranéen de Montpellier - CIHEAM - Centre International de Hautes Études Agronomiques Méditerranéennes - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement - Institut Agro Montpellier - Institut Agro - Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement
Sandrine Costa: UMR MoISA - Montpellier Interdisciplinary center on Sustainable Agri-food systems (Social and nutritional sciences) - Cirad - Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement - IRD - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement - CIHEAM-IAMM - Centre International de Hautes Etudes Agronomiques Méditerranéennes - Institut Agronomique Méditerranéen de Montpellier - CIHEAM - Centre International de Hautes Études Agronomiques Méditerranéennes - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement - Institut Agro Montpellier - Institut Agro - Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement
Vu Hoang Ha Pham: UMR MoISA - Montpellier Interdisciplinary center on Sustainable Agri-food systems (Social and nutritional sciences) - Cirad - Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement - IRD - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement - CIHEAM-IAMM - Centre International de Hautes Etudes Agronomiques Méditerranéennes - Institut Agronomique Méditerranéen de Montpellier - CIHEAM - Centre International de Hautes Études Agronomiques Méditerranéennes - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement - Institut Agro Montpellier - Institut Agro - Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement

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Abstract: French horse riding is organized around professional centres such as riding schools or livery stables. As other sports, outdoor practices are booming throughout the current pandemic. Thus, the French equine industry is interested in people who organize themselves to care for their horse(s) outside of professional centres. In this context, this research aims to understand the characteristics and behaviours of self-organized equestrian users. A quantitative survey was conducted online in France. The 660 respondents are aged 15 years and over with a mean of 34 years. The main motivation leading them to self-organize is to offer better living conditions to their horse. They are quite experienced riders and generally take care of or practice with their horses alone or with their family. The average duration of self- organization is 8 years and 85% are satisfied with their current organization. Only 5% of the respondents have never used a professional equestrian centre (usually to learn riding). Using a hierarchical classification with R, we identified 6 types of self-organized users. The ‘hackers' (1 st type representing 39%) are moderately experienced riders who prefer hacking. They have spent less time in professional structures, own fewer horses, and have been self-organized for longer than the sample average. The ‘classical' profile (2 nd type) has a conventional type of practice (competitions and Olympic disciplines), a higher equestrian and academic level, and they are members of a professional structure. 16% are considered ‘multidisciplinary' (3 rd type) as they seek many different types of experiences. The ‘former professionals' (4 th type) are for half competitors, ¾ of them offer a home retirement to their horses and they often breed. The ‘non-practicing' and the ‘observers' (5 th and 6 th types) represent 7% of the sample. These results offer an opportunity for equestrian managers to target their activities to the needs of these clients, making better use of their facilities and coaching offer. The identification of like-minded equestrian centres would allow the self-organized to access support from professionals and co-create a viable business model for all stakeholders.

Keywords: Self-organized; equestrian (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022-09-05
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Published in 73. Annual meeting of the european federation of animal science (EAAP), Sep 2022, Porto, Portugal

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hal:journl:hal-03779267

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