Socio-economic structure and current problems of horse breeding enterprises in Mahmudiye district of Eskişehir

The horse has been an significant farm animal throughout history and has been used especially in agriculture, transportation and military activities. This study was conducted to ascertain the socio-economic status and current problems of horse enterprises in Mahmudiye district of Eskişehir province. The material of the study consists of the data obtained as a result of face-to-face interviews in 12 horse enterprises in Mahmudiye district of Eskişehir province in 2019. In the results of the survey, it was determined that the average age of the enterprise owners was 41.25 years and their average professional experience was 17.67 years. Of the total cost, 49.33% was feed costs, 16.87% was labor costs, 14.55% was litter costs and 8.68% was natural mating costs. The main problems identified in the region for the enterprise are marketing and feed supply (83.33%), labor supply (50%) and health problems (41.67%). Mahmudiye district is still a significant breeding region for horse breeding and racing. Encouraging tourists and children to participate in equestrian sports and activities like horseback riding will have an impact on the socio-cultural growth, career opportunities, and overall economic diversity of the local population and national income of Türkiye. Therefore, with this study, it is thought that it would be useful to establish a horse training area in Mahmudiye district in order to spread the love of horses and equestrian culture and to develop equestrianism.