Business Equestrian: Entrepreneurial Opportunities in the Turkmen Horse Racing Sector

The equine industry represents a vital intersection of cultural heritage and economic potential, particularly in regions where traditional equestrian practices endure. This study investigates entrepreneurial opportunities within the Turkmen horse racing sector in Golestan province, Iran, emphasizing their role in fostering sustainable economic development and cultural preservation. Employing a mixed-methods exploratory approach, the research engaged ۱۵ expert participants—including competition organizers, equestrian club owners, trainers, veterinary and agriculture specialists, tourism experts, and horse industry agents—in the qualitative phase, followed by a quantitative survey of ۱۵۰ stakeholders (including knowledgeable tourists, riders, breeders, event managers, equipment agents, media representatives, and agricultural officials). Six core dimensions emerged as significant drivers of entrepreneurship: veterinary medicine, horse event organization, horse tourism, breeding and selling horses, horse exports, and agriculture and horse services. Among these, veterinary medicine was found to be the strongest predictor of entrepreneurial success, followed by horse event organization and horse tourism. These findings highlight the transformative potential of the equine sector in leveraging cultural assets for economic growth. Practical implications include the need for strategic investments in equine health infrastructure, modernization of breeding practices, and international branding of Turkmen horses through cross-border collaborations. Such efforts can enhance the sector’s appeal to domestic and global markets, unlocking both economic and cultural value.

کلیدواژه ها:

Equestrian Entrepreneurship ، Turkmen Horse Racing ، Sports Tourism ، Veterinary Medicine ، Horse Breeding and Exports