Longines Hong Kong International Horse Show brings show jumping back to the city
Published: 6:15pm, 7 Feb 2025 Equestrian fever will descend on Hong Kong next week, when the debut Longines Hong Kong International Horse Show rides into town. Scheduled for February 14 to 16, it follows in the hoofsteps of the Longines Masters of Hong Kong event, last held in 2019, and marks the return of world-class showjumping to AsiaWorld-Expo after a six-year absence.
Inspired by the London International Horse Show, which launched in 1907, this elite event aims to establish itself as an annual fixture in Hong Kong's sporting calendar, and expects to attract more than 25,000 visitors from home and overseas. The three-day programme will feature a series of high-profile competitions, including a 5-Star International Showjumping event, one of the most prestigious classifications in equestrian sports, where more than 30 top-tier international show jumpers such as Scott Brash and Max Kühner will compete alongside local talents including Clarissa Lyra and Patrick Lam , vying for a prize pool of about HK$6.5 million. A total of 70 horses will be flown in to take part.
In addition to the main events, there will be plenty to keep fanatics on the edge of their saddles, including dressage exhibitions and the much-anticipated Shetland Pony Grand National, where the diminutive ponies will race over miniature brush obstacles.
For a dose of four-legged theatre, Spanish equestrian artist Santi Serra will convince the audience of his horse-whispering abilities as he coaxes his four Arabian horses into a precise dance routine without saddle or bridle.
As with any major event in Hong Kong, retail therapy is part of the equation. More than 100 booths covering fashion, food, homeware and, of course, equestrian goods will be bolstered by rider interviews, hobby-horse riding for children and up-close viewing of the warm-up ring, where riders can be found exercising their horses before each competition round.
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