Pune Hosts Equestrian Forum 2026; Govt Push for Structured Growth in Equine Sector

Pune, 13th April 2026: The Maharashtra government is open to signing MoUs with institutions and collaborating with universities to boost the equine sector, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Minister Pankaja Munde said on Saturday.

She was speaking at the inauguration of The Equestrian Forum 2026, a national-level conference organised by The Equine Collective in Pune. The event was jointly inaugurated by Munde and Jaykumar Rawal, Minister of Marketing and Protocol.

Highlighting the need for a structured and collaborative approach, Munde said the equine sector holds strong potential beyond sports, including rural development, employment generation, and environmental sustainability. She added that the state government is willing to support initiatives related to animal welfare, scientific breeding, veterinary care, and skill development.

The forum, organised under the aegis of MIT World Peace University, brought together riders, breeders, veterinarians, policymakers, and industry stakeholders from across the country to deliberate on building a sustainable and globally competitive equine ecosystem in India.

Opening the session, Gayatri Rahul Karad, founder of The Equine Collective and convenor of the forum, stressed the need to formalise the largely unstructured sector. She noted that despite being part of a global industry valued in hundreds of billions of dollars, a significant portion of India’s equine workforce lacks formal training and certification. The forum aims to address this gap through skill development, standardisation, and long-term career pathways.

Addressing the gathering, Munde praised the initiative, stating that collective approaches are essential for emerging sectors. “New ideas are always challenging, but they are also very powerful. The concept of a collective approach for the equine sector is both timely and necessary,” she said.

Jaykumar Rawal highlighted the cultural and economic significance of the equine sector, noting India’s rich heritage and the potential for growth in areas such as breeding, equine tourism, veterinary care, and training.

Dr. Rahul V. Karad, Executive President of MIT-WPU, emphasised the role of academia in supporting sectoral development. He said platforms like the forum can help integrate education, animal welfare, sports science, and innovation to build a knowledge-driven ecosystem.

The inauguration session was followed by a panel discussion on policy and governance, focusing on rebranding and strengthening the equine industry. Moderated by senior journalist Cyrus Madan, the panel included Pankaja Munde, Jaykumar Rawal, Dr. Farrokh Wadia, and Dr. Anhad Sidhu.

The forum features expert sessions, panel discussions, and live demonstrations on breeding, veterinary science, animal welfare, technology adoption, and policy frameworks, with participation from national and international experts.