Just back from one of her expeditions to Xinjiang where she led 22 people of different ages in a nature riding experience, Poon sat down with Style in a video call, sharing her experience as a competitor in the world of equestrian sports before delving into entrepreneurship and talking about her brainchild Horse & Hound – an equestrian lifestyle store that is taking the riding community in Hong Kong to new levels.

Horse racing career

Poon was so young when she rode her first horse that she does not recall her earliest riding memory. Her parents had met on horseback and Poon basically grew up around horses, saying, “I spent my whole life with the horses.”

It was only natural that Poon became an equestrian. She landed a summer job working in the stables at a local riding school, where she spent her time bonding with horses. This convinced her to stay in the industry and eventually sparked her interest in competing.

Poon’s journey into equestrianism saw her specialise in the horse racing discipline of endurance racing, a long-distance competition that can cover terrains ranging from 40 kilometres to 160 kilometres.

The breakthrough in her career came when she had the opportunity to represent Hong Kong at the World Equestrian Games in Normandy, France in 2014 – one of the most prestigious competitions in the world. Poon said, “I’m very proud to be a rider from Hong Kong, it’s actually the first time that [someone from] Hong Kong represented at the World Equestrian Games.”

When asked about her most memorable competition, she said it was when she qualified for the World Equestrian Games, saying “because it’s like a ticket for me to go into the big competitions”.

It was one of the longest rides Poon had done as well, of which she shared, “It was 160km in France, and it was snowing. I was really cold and also my horse was a really young lady horse. So for her and for me, it’s also a challenge because I have never ridden that long distance before. And then for the first time, we challenged that distance and we both made it.”

As all athletes do, Poon’s career was not one without difficulties. A serious injury caused her to take a break from riding, which allowed her to focus her attention on teaching the sport instead: “Through teaching also, you look at the sport from a different angle. Actually, I learned a lot not just from riding, [but] from not being on the horseback as well.”

A Three-Star FEI endurance rider, Poon has had to independently position herself in the endurance riding scene, a discipline that doesn’t even exist in Hong Kong yet, learning to self-fund her experiences.

The 32-year-old also shared how different horses have taught her different lessons: “I learned a lot [from] good horses and also the not-so-good horses. Actually, the not-so-good horses or the young horses, they teach you more.”

But she does have a soft spot for two horses, saying, “With the horses I rode, of course, it’s my World Equestrian Games horse, it’s called Siria, and then on the racing side [it’s] Golden Sixty,” mentioning the highest earning Hong Kong-trained beauty.

Horse & Hound Hong Kong

Located in the heart of SoHo, Hong Kong, Horse & Hound is a thriving lifestyle store, catering to equestrians and riding enthusiasts. Poon’s brainchild was born after she observed how brands that had been sponsoring her were not available in the city she calls home.

With a focus on quality professional gear, her store has become the premier destination for riding essentials in Hong Kong, importing European brands that guarantee craftsmanship.

Safety is a priority in equestrian sports and Poon said “safety gears like helmets and body protectors have to be qualified, and [be from] insured brands,” before adding that they should also look good, “because it is quite an elegant and good-looking, glamorous sport”.

Beyond retail, Horse & Hound has become a hub for the riding community, fostering connections and facilitating conversations. Poon embraced the role of a mentor, providing guidance to aspiring riders such as recommending trainers and resources. The store also sponsors local equestrian competitions, particularly those involving children.

Future plans

In Hong Kong, Poon noticed the city’s limitations for youngsters interested in equestrian sports, saying, “They [horse riders] can only ride the small paddock and many people, they never really ride outside of the paddock like in nature.” To overcome this, she suggested to “try riding in different environments, countries, cultures, then you’ll learn different things about the animal, about horse language and horse culture.”

Passionate about setting up horse racing facilities for students in China in the near future, Poon said she would like to bring her teaching and experience into the country, to see a growing interest in equestrian sports in Asia.

Poon currently runs clinics in China for endurance racing, helping young riders from Hong Kong to access equestrian sports in the mainland as well, saying, “I also help riders to match the trainers and the horses. And it’s actually quite rewarding when you help an athlete organise a race somewhere and then they make it.”