Easy riders
Chinese show jumpers gallop into Shanghai event
The Longines Global Champions Tour rode into Shanghai last weekend, with Chinese riders relishing the rare chance to test themselves on home soil against the world’s best.
As a CSI level-5 show jumping event sanctioned by global governing body the FEI, the competition attracted top stars like Belgium’s Gregory Wathelet, who won the weekend’s main title (1.60 meters), Dutch world No 2 Harrie Smolders and Britain’s Olympic gold medalist Scott Brash.
Reaching the podium against such exalted company proved a step too far for the Chinese contingent, but they still seized the opportunity with both hands.
“Competing in high-level competition means getting out of your comfort zone,” said Hong Kong’s Raena Leung, who has ridden on the European circuit since 2011.
“Riders might know all of their competitors in domestic events. When we get out of here, there’s a whole different world.
“That also means handling more pressure. Riders have to expose themselves to more high-level competitions, so we know what to do when the real challenges come.”
Teenager Ella Wang, who is already a national champion, was one of the youngest Chinese riders to compete in Shanghai.
The 19-year-old, who has been training in Germany since 2016, said Europe has much more to offer her than the equestrian scene here, which remains in its infancy.
“There are all levels of equestrian events every week in Europe, and sometimes there are two or three competitions over a weekend,” said Wang.
“I can manage to participate in several different competitions, depending on the condition of my horses. Because there are different levels, I can ride up to six horses to compete for several rounds at a time. In China, I only need to take one or two horses with me.
“There’s a gap between Chinese and European equestrianism. Children in Europe can get a quality equestrian education from the very beginning. It’s good to see that there are more and more high-level events in China, and I hope more Chinese riders will compete in them.”
Wang’s case is common, with the majority of China’s established riders training in Europe and sometimes living there permanently, such as Alex Hua Tian, who placed eighth in eventing at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
He began equestrian training in the UK at the age of 11, attending the prestigious Chafyn Grove School in Salisbury and later the nearby famous Eton College.
Striking a balance
For many riders, the choice between education and equestrianism is never a zero-sum game. Leung’s equestrian career has followed a similar pattern to Hua Tian’s.
“I went to the UK to continue my education when I was 18,” said Leung, who earned a master’s degree in sport and exercise psychology.
“While I was in university, I couldn’t give up my love of equestrian so I found a trainer and kept my training going as long as I had time.
“To balance education and riding, I had to manage my time very carefully. I had to finish all my schoolwork before going out for training.”
Upon completing her education, Leung became a professional rider, with her international show jumping experience giving her a wealth of knowledge and the ability to teach juniors and amateurs.
Zhang Xingjia, another 19-yearold rider who competed in Shanghai, has also proved that a rider’s academic pursuits need not suffer because of equestrian commitments.
Zhang took up the sport when he was 13 in his hometown of Jiaxing, Zhejiang province and trained in Shanghai on weekends.
Now he is planning to continue his education at a university in Lille, France. “Education is a must while equestrianism cannot be given up,” he said.