The Chairman Mr. Raphael Le Masne de Chermont kicked off proceedings at the Asia Horse Week, saying there could be no backdrop more suitable than Hong Kong for such a rendezvous, being one of the most active racing cities in the world with a long equine legacy.
"The Asia Horse Week will be a one-stop international platform. It will be a place to learn, entertain and exchange about equestrian matters," he said.
25 countries represented through 18 equestrian federations and riders plus more than 60 key equestrian delegates came together to share information and discuss a diverse array of topics.
As well as sessions exploring China's burgeoning equestrian scene and Hong Kong's growing role as an equestrian hub, Asia Horse Week also featured international speakers who addressed bio-security concerns, spoke about horse welfare, equine transportation, horsemanship and the journey that lies ahead on the road to 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
In one of the early sessions, the British and German equestrian learning systems were shared by the Chief Executive of the British Horse Society, Mrs. Lynn Petersen, who concluded her talk by referring to the "Two Hearts" campaign from the FEI which describes the equestrian spirit as the heart of horse and the heart of rider working in harmony. Good horsemanship and the welfare of the horses were a recurring theme of the summit, which was repeated by speakers from France, Germany and the Netherlands.
A well-known equestrian face in China who has competed in two Olympic Games, the eventing rider Alex Hua Tian said he wants to spread awareness across the country, but emphasised that, much like his Olympic training, the process should not be rushed.
"In this region the growth is so fast and so strong that I hope federations will be more focused on a long-term strategy and invest in the future, especially in China," he commented. He also shared his unique and ambitious grass-root programme to give children in China the opportunity to learn about the values of horsemanship.
China's equestrian development was of course put in the spotlight as China's impressive growth confirms that the region is the future of equestrianism. A consultant to the Hong Kong equestrian team, Ludger Beerbaum said that China needs to set up a better competition structure and make the sport more accessible.
