China equestrian star Alex Hua Tian posts Facebook ad seeking horses for his 2020 Tokyo Olympic campaign
- The mainland’s first Olympic eventing rider says the Chinese governing body will pay for the horse’s upkeep in the lead-up to next year’s Games
- Hua is the youngest Olympic eventer, having taken part in the 2008 Beijing Games competition in Hong Kong at the age of 18
China’s first-ever Olympic eventing rider, Alex Hua Tian, is on the lookout for owners who can supply him with top quality horses to help him in the lead-up to the 2020 Games – with the Chinese Equestrian Association willing to pay for its upkeep leading up to Tokyo.
After an excellent eighth place at the 2016 Rio Olympics aboard Don Geniro, the 29-year-old Hua is confident of putting on an even better performance in Tokyo, but needs a greater choice of horses to boost his preparation.
Hua – who was born in Britain and grew up in Beijing, Guangzhou and Hong Kong – has put an ad on social media sites and elsewhere seeking horse owners.
“My ad is very much targeting existing western owners who already have a horse and try to encourage them to come over to China because they will get a better opportunity, better odds of their horse going to the Olympic Games,” Hua told the South China Morning Post.
“And also my federation will help to cover their costs. At the same time, we are investing time and effort at owners in China who are unlikely to be existing owners but who have the funds to invest in buying a horse.”