Jet-setting Paralympic Horses Arrive in Hong Kong
27 August 2008
The first horses to travel overseas for the Paralympic Games arrived safely in Hong Kong last night, slightly more than a week before they begin their Dressage competitions. After their 9.5-hour flight from Melbourne, four horses representing Australia were ushered into the Club floats, which whisked them to the Paralympic Equestrian Venue in Sha Tin. There, they settled into spacious, air-conditioned stables.
Hong Kong is staging the equestrian competitions of the Beijing 2008 Paralympics, and for the first time since equestrianism was introduced to the Paralympics in 1996, riders are allowed to bring and partner with their own horses. In previous years, the human athletes performed with horses provided by the host city.
The rest of the Paralympic horses are due to fly in from England, Amsterdam, Los Angeles and New York during the next couple of days. A total of 72 horses and 73 riders from 28 nations-all Paralympic record numbers--are entered to compete in Hong Kong from 7-11 September. Up for grabs are gold, silver and bronze medals for team dressage, individuals executing a specific Dressage routine, and individual freestyle Dressage.
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Photo 1:
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For the first time, riders from around the world are bringing their own horses to compete in the Paralympics. The Australian team's horses landed in Hong Kong on Tuesday night and boarded waiting Club floats.
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Photo 2
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Photo 3
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Photo 4:
On the way to the Paralympic Equestrian Venue in Sha Tin, a Hong Kong Jockey Club staffer rides in an air-conditioned float with the prized horses.
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Photo 5:
The horses from Australia arrive at the Sha Tin stables, the first of 72 horses coming to participate in the Paralympics beginning on 7 September.
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Photo 6:
The Australian team settles the new arrivals into their spacious, air-conditioned stables.
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