Taiwan's equestrian team plans to put on a good show at the fifth annual Asian Equestrian Championships taking place at Hannover Stables in Taipei. The city's largest riding stable has hosted the event each year since it began but this year it's boasting its best teams of riders to date.
The jumping and dressage competitions begin today and go through Sunday.
"We're very proud of this year's team," said Hannover's Fuji Chang (
"Hannover has experienced some unfortunate setbacks in the past year but it's caused our riders to really come together as a team. They're in great shape and we're confident we'll have a good showing."
The national side may be in top condition, but it will be riding against the largest field of competitors the Asian championships have ever hosted.
Whereas in previous years several competing nations have canceled or withdrawn, this year there will be over 70 riders from a dozen countries, including Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, Iran, Japan, Hong Kong and others.
A couple of names to watch are Chen Shao-man (
But the real stars of the show are the horses and Hannover Club -- already home to several dozen fine quarter horses -- has additional star power for this year's competition, with geldings and mares from Europe, Australia and new Zealand.
The horses are each around 10 to 12 years old. In equine terms these are the rebellious teen years when a horse often doesn't want to do what its rider wants of it.
The riders will pick their mounts by lottery, thereby eliminating the "horse factor" and putting the onus on the rider to prove his or her skill on top of a horse that is unfamiliar.
Anyone who thinks winning is a matter of picking a great horse is thinking of the wrong sport. English-style is to equitation what figure skating is to the ice rink; speed or power is not at issue. Each of the horses has already proven its ability to clear each hurdle in the steeplechase and perform each maneuver in the dressage competitions.
What's being judged, rather, is the rider's ability to get the horse to do those things.
Winners and losers can often be difficult to distinguish. Judges scrutinize the rider's every move: if they've picked up the correct lead on the canter, if they can do flying lead changes, even if there heel is in the right place.
"Horse riding is a splendid spectator sport," Chang said. "But people tend to forget that it's not the horse that is competing -- it's the rider!"
To get to the Hannover Equestrian Club take the MRT to Shipai Station. From Shipai, it's a 10 minute walk west down Shipai Road to Chengde Road. Cross the street, turn right and look for the signs marking the entrance to the stable road. Admission is free and tea and snacks will be on offer.
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