Going to the Longines Masters for the first time: JRs stunned by the artistry and perfect partnership between horse and rider

Our Junior reporters share their highlights from the Longines Masters, one of Hong Kong’s biggest equestrian events

I turned up at the Longines Masters knowing very little about show jumping, but wow! My eyes have truly been opened to the artistry of this sport.
We began our evening with the HKJC Asian Junior Challenge, where five teen riders showed off their jumping skills. Getting to see young riding prodigies in action was one of the main reasons I was so excited to come to this event. Every one of them showed great talent and sportsmanship. They were also very gentle and loving towards their horses, giving them lots of pats after their performance.
Later in the night was the Longines Speed Challenge, the fastest event of the tournament. Twenty one riders took turns completing the course in a race against the clock. As the crowd clapped and cheered, the ring was filled with excitement. In the end, German rider Bertram Allen and his 10-year-old horse Christy Jnr took the top spot with a time of just 60.47 seconds.
Aside from the competitions, there was a stunning performance by Frederic Pignon and Magali Delgado, whose graceful routine combined horse riding with dance and music. Hong Kong’s own Asian Games gold medallist Jacqueline Siu also treated the crowd to a dressage performance; she and her horse were a picture of strength and agility as they cantered around the ring.