China has a rich history of horseback riding, but until recently, more as a practical farming skill. Horseback riding was one of the Liu Yi, or Six Arts, including music and mathematics, that young students were required to master during the Western Zhou Dynasty (c. 11th century-771 BC) and the Eastern Zhou Dynasty (770-256 BC).

Horse racing and jumping events are still frequently held in stock-raising areas, including the Tibet, Xinjiang Uygur and Inner Mongolia autonomous regions.

The main difference between modern equestrian sports and traditional Chinese horseback riding is that the modern form emphasizes a respectful interaction between rider and horse, while the animals are regarded simply as livestock by more traditionally minded people, according to Li Weiping, consultant to the China Horse Industry Association.