The horse population in the Vitebsk region will increase to almost 10,000 by 2015.

December 27, Vitebsk / Diana Kurilo - BELTA /. The horse population in the Vitebsk region is planned to be increased to almost 10,000 by 2015. This is stipulated by the program for the development of the region's agro-industrial complex for the next five-year period, the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee's Agriculture and Food Committee informed a BELTA correspondent. Horse breeding is an additional branch of animal husbandry. The demand for horses and horse breeding products is driven by the economic feasibility of internal farm work, the development of equestrian sports, and the use of surplus and culled horses for export and meat processing plants, committee specialists explained. Currently, the region has 7.5 thousand horses in 291 farms. Four breeding farms - in Postavy, Verkhnedvinsk and Glubokoye districts - are engaged in breeding the Belarusian harness horse breed and sport horses of Hanoverian, Trakehner, Russian trotter, and Budyonny breeds. Equestrian sports in the region are represented by the Olympic Reserve Center for Equestrian Sports and Horse Breeding in Baran, which includes two sports schools in Orsha and Vitebsk districts and two agricultural enterprises in Verkhnedvinsk and Glubokoye districts. The Vitebsk Children and Youth Sports School of Trade Unions for Equestrian Sports "Niva" operates in Tolochin district. In total, about 30 groups operate in the region, with over 200 students participating in equestrian sports. Along with increasing the horse population, horse breeders intend to pay close attention to breeding work, primarily with the Belarusian harness horse breed. The main task will be to create horses of two types: for performing most medium-duty work and heavy draft work. -0-