Temperatures expected to reach a scorching 35°C will prove a real challenge for both participants and organisers of the Beijing 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Equestrian events taking place in Hong Kong next August. Factor in high percentage humidity to the scorching heat and that provides event conditions that organisers describe, with a degree of understatement as “not that equine-friendly”.
Although undoubtedly extremely uncomfortable for riders the primary concern for the event’s organisers is the welfare of the horses. New facilities have been custom-built for the event and the Hong Kong Jockey Club has contributed almost £50million to the project, anxious to ensure that everything proceeds smoothly. To be sure that happened the club took comprehensive veterinary advice before designing and planning new facilities, and modifying existing ones.
The facilities will be used to host the three-day eventing, dressage and showjumping; the first time any major events involving horses will have taken place in Hong Kong during the stifling heat of August. Although horse racing has been a major item on the region’s sporting calendar since 1884 it has never taken place during this traditionally hot and humid month.
Showjumping and dressage venues will be incorporated in and around the Sha Tin racecourse, the training facilities will be in the centre of the circuit, and the cross-country course is 30 minutes drive away at Hong Kong Golf Club and Beas River Country Club. The course has been designed with four different set-ups, so in the case of extreme temperatures and humidity and with horse welfare compromised the course can be shortened.
In an attempt to make the events more horse-friendly in the anticipated conditions they are scheduled for early mornings, and later in the evenings under floodlights. However, there will still be mobile cooling units on hand adjacent to the cross-country track to treat overheated horses, and there will a state-of-the-art equine hospital on site.
In terms of stabling, the horses will receive the equestrian equivalent of a five star hotel in Hong Kong. Air conditioning in each of the stables that will house 200 horses, roofs that can be opened and even standby fans should the air-con fail. Walk-through misting tents will allow horses to receive a fine cooling spray once tack has been removed by their riders.
To ensure that the facilities will work under competition conditions the Jockey Club tested them, hosting the Good Luck Beijing Cup this year on the same dates as next year’s Olympic events. Everything went smoothly and any small problems were ironed out, leaving organisers confident and looking forward to hosting the Olympics next year.
Andrew Regan is an online, freelance author from Scotland. He is a keen rugby player and enjoys travelling.
