Concern about the beijing xc?

[2DogsFarm]

[quote=Dixon;3418628]
Boy, is this a misguided attempt at reassurance. Remember, everybody, that even though certain events will be held in HK because Beijing didn’t have a PRAYER of building horse facilities in time for the Olympics

Have you seen horse facilities in Beijing?
I have, on a trip 2 years ago.
Approximately an hour outside the city itself I toured 3 lovely facilities.
These were not pre-arranged visits, I went with a friend who was living there and wanted to find someplace to ride. We hired a car and found the places we wanted to see ourselves. Even got a refferal to one from an ex-pat rider who met us visiting the second place we saw.
Horses were well cared for, facilites ranged from modest to pretty impressive. And the grounds of all provided decent arenas - indoor and out and plenty of room to ride trails. Trails appeared inviting and well kept.

I believe HongKong was chosen for the Games as they have a long history of Thoroughbred racing and the facilites to stable a large number of international arrivals (horses and attendants)

The Chinese government is not without problems, but horsekeeping is not one of them.

[Reynard_Ridge]

I thought the key issue with Beijing was quarantine?

This is what the NYTs says about it: “But China was forced to move all six equestrian events after international veterinary groups declined three years ago to certify Beijing as free of equine diseases. If the equestrian events were held in Beijing, the horses would be forced to endure lengthy quarantines upon leaving China.” (By KEITH BRADSHER Published: August 3, 2008)

So, less about the ability of China to create a facility than about how the international community handles quarantine. Which certainly makes sense to me.

[Masinya]

[QUOTE=Dixon;3418628]
As for the XC itself, besides the vengeful motives an earlier posted attributed to the Chinese (make the course too hard for the usual nations to excel), we should worry more about sheer incompetence of the Chinese. They have no background in horse facilities. Even if a premier international course designer from a western nation DESIGNED the course, it’s Chinese people on the ground carrying out the BUILDING of the course under instruction of their Chinese government, and you’d better believe there will be unsafe conditions out there – anything from nails laying around to splinters sticking out where horses will run into them, to unsafe water jumps, to footing that collapses/crumbles dangerously . . . . . use your imagination. Or your horse to go test it out. Poor horses.[/QUOTE]

The course is being build by David Evans, from United Kingdom, who often builds the courses for Mike Etherington-Smith. Many of the jumps are portable and not built on site. Dave would oversee any construction on site i.e. the water jump. The whole course is inspected by many people and it is unlikely that anything unsafe would go unnoticed. Take a look at: http://useventing.com/competitions.php?id=1412

[linquest]

Oh. My. :eek: Prejudiced much?

[monicabee]

As a result of this thread, I went to dig out more info on the Chinese riders who managed to qualify to compete. Obviously they are not in medal contention, but if you read their stories it took a great deal of will power (and cash) to even get there.

There will actually be a “Chinese” eventer – Alex Hua Tian – and he’s eighteen, handsome, and has a British mother who got him on horseback at an early age. He grew up largely in Hong Kong and England, so he has not exactly lacked for opportunity. A business acquaintance of his father became his backer to get him the horses and competition milage. Seems like he made a good investment.

This was hastily written and derived entirely from online sources, but if anyone is interested:

http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/horsebytes/archives/145422.asp

[Larksmom]

Are there any pix of the x-c?

I have been crusin this m,orning and cannot find any of the course. Should I try H&H?

[NoelleMwc]

[QUOTE=Larksmom;3424702]
I have been crusin this m,orning and cannot find any of the course. Should I try H&H?[/QUOTE]
Did you see this post?:

http://www.chronicleforums.com/Forum/showthread.php?t=161164

Tons of cool XC pictures on the link provided!

[fiona]

There will actually be a “Chinese” eventer – Alex Hua Tian

Alex is a fantastic rider, he’s trained by double olympian Jane (bredin) Gregory for dressage and the multi talented Clayton and Lucinda Fredericks. Do not underestimate him!