Behind the Games for Team Hong Kong, China
The 19th Asian Games, held in Hangzhou, represented one of the most successful equestrian results Team Hong Kong, China has ever produced, claiming a bronze medal in the team dressage competition as well as an individual dressage silver medal for Jaqueline Siu. But behind the cheers and adrenaline was a support team that worked tirelessly to ensure the success of the largest equestrian squad Hong Kong, China has ever sent to the Games. Meet four of the key people who were there every step of the way.
Amanda Bond
Head of Equestrian Affairs, Hong Kong Jockey Club
As head of Equestrian Affairs at the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) for some 10 years, Amanda Bond has seen it all – running riding schools, overseeing the Retired Racehorses Programme, and everything else equestrian- related at the Club.
“I’ve also worked at the last five Olympic / Paralympic Games, so I have an understanding of how [sporting] events work, and how to manage sports teams, which is what I usually do for Team Hong Kong, China,” Amanda says. But for the 19th Asian Games, the Club had been asked to help the 19th Asian Games Hangzhou 2022 Organising Committee. “So, on this occasion, we formed a task force that was deployed to Hangzhou to help the organisers to ensure the smooth running of the games,” says Amanda.
“It’s about supporting the team to do the best they can.”
HKJC, with Amanda’s leadership, pulled together an expert team to support the technical details
in six areas at the Games: biosecurity, horse transportation, stable management, veterinary and farriery services, venue operations, and international stakeholder engagement. “It was a global jigsaw puzzle that we had to navigate,” recalls this former CEO of British Dressage. “But I’ve been on the participant side, so that gives you a real insight into how to make the games special for the athletes.”
“The Asian Games were about creating the right environment, and enabling and supporting the teams to do the best that they can in competition,” Amanda continues. “HKJC represented ourselves well both in the sporting arena and the expertise field – so, mission
Suzanne Baker
Equine Physiotherapist
Qualified to treat humans initially, Suzanne Baker then trained for some extra years to treat animals. Having ridden for Great Britain in dressage and eventing competitions,
she knows a thing or two about understanding horses – even when they’re unable to verbalise it themselves. “They obviously can’t chat with you, but horses communicate very well via body language,” Suzanne says. And it is her deep experience that made her crucial to the support team during the Asian Games. “I’d worked with Team Hong Kong, China at the past three Asian Games,” she says, “so I knew what to expect in the build-up to and during the Games and competition, both for our team and our horses.”
Working closely alongside team veterinarian Adrian Farrington, Suzanne brought her knowledge in equine anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, and specialised treatments such as electrotherapy to provide onsite support for Team Hong Kong, China’s performance horses. “It is important to understand their behaviour – when they’re happy, if they’re not so comfortable – and they benefit a lot from the treatment,” she shares.
“Horses communicate very well via body language.”
The goal here is to help the horses achieve their optimum performance on competition day. “It’s a very rewarding role. I have a great love and respect for these wonderful animals,” says Suzanne. “With treatment, they respond well, relax and you can see them telling you: that feels great – and I’m ready to go and win a medal!”
Tasha Rose
Executive Manager, Equestrian Affairs Projects, Hong Kong Jockey Club
It was a chance visit to Hong Kong during her time working in British Racing that changed the trajectory of Tasha Rose’s equestrian career. “I met Amanda [Bond], and little did I know, our meeting would lead to the possibility of a new career,” she says. That was in 2017.
Since then, Tasha, a self-proclaimed “horse-mad girl” since she was young has embraced her varied roles as Executive Manager, Equestrian Affairs Projects. This includes running the Retired Horse Unit in Conghua, as well as the Club’s Retired Horse Strategy, supporting the management of Team Hong Kong, China, and leading equestrian business development projects.
“No two days are ever the same,” says Tasha.
And that could not have been truer at the 19th Asian Games, where Tasha was appointed as the Assistant Chef d’Equipe. Working alongside Chef d’Equipe Corinne Bracken, she oversaw all the logistics for Team Hong Kong, China – everything “from transportation to Hangzhou, to the stables once we arrived, the daily schedules, to possible illness contingencies, horse quarantine and local know-how”, she shares. “You have to be relatively unflappable and be prepared for the unexpected, making sure the athletes only have to think about their performance and don’t have to stress about all the other things surrounding it.” It was the close working relationships with her colleagues, as well as her understanding of the nuances of the team and format of a championship, that allowed her to navigate (and prevent) every obstacle.
When the event ended, Tasha required a bit of recovery herself – from the post-Games blues. “I’m very proud of the work I do, and of how the Club provided such excellent support for Team Hong Kong, China,” she says. “We definitely smashed our targets.”
Majid Khan
Human Physiotherapist
Clinical Director, The Physio Lab
Leading up to the 19th Asian Games, Majid made sure that riders were healthy and ready to compete as soon as they arrived in Hangzhou. “Because they were located around the world, communication was vital,” he says. Regular consultations covered topics such as anti-doping supplements. medications. and exercise routines - anything the athletes needed to know.
At the Games, it was about optimising nutrition and recovery with individualised programmes for each rider, especially with the extreme heat that they encountered.
“It's not textbook - we give them each what they need so they can prepare at the highest level.”
Taking feedback from the coaches to guide the athletes in making changes to their posture, Majid continued to be amazed by how a rider can impact the horse. “You have to be really supple and flexible and with soft hands, feel the horse,” he says. “If you're tight and anxious, the horses are going to know. The bond between human and equine is just amazing.”
“Behind the Games” written by Emily Chu with photos by Mike Pickles was originally published in Badges, The Hong Kong Jockey Club Members’ Magazine (2024).