S. Korea to expand horseback riding trails for public leisure

SEJONG, May 26 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will work to increase the number of trails specifically dedicated to horseback riding as part of efforts to promote the leisurely sport, the government said Tuesday. The move comes as the number of people enjoying horseback riding has nearly doubled from about 25,000 in 2010 to 45,000 in 2013, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. "The number of people who enjoy horseback riding is continuing to increase while the demand for horseback riding outside of riding grounds is also growing," the ministry said in a press release. Currently, there are only two riding trails, compared with 961 in the United States as of the end of 2014, according to the ministry. The government plans to expand the number of trails specifically dedicated to horseback riding to 12 by 2020. This will extend the combined length of the trails from the current 21 kilometers to 300 kilometers, it said. To this end, the government will spend 8.74 billion won (US$7.96 million) in 2016 alone, the ministry said. bdk@yna.co.kr (END)