De första hästar har anlänt till Ryttar-OS i Hong Kong. Däribland de danska dressyrhästarna.

Från Ryttar-OS:
After a half-day journey from Amsterdam, the first batch of 14 horses arrived remarkably well this morning (July 26) at their six-star stable accommodation in Hong Kong Olympic Equestrian Venue (Sha Tin).

    During the course of the day another 18 competing horses arrived from Europe and the United States. And over the next few days a total of 229 horses from across the globe will arrive at Hong Kong.

    The Chief Executive Officer of the Equestrian Company, Mr Lam Woon-kwong, showed his delight with the arrangements of the transfer of the horses after their arrival when he told the assembled media that all involved in preparation for the competition had gone into Olympic mode as of today.

    ”I am so pleased with the reports of our veterinarian staff when I visited the stables that all 14 had travelled well,” he said. ”Our experience from last year’s trials has been useful as we are prepared for all conditions…. periods of heat or wet weather conditions.”

    Mr Lam was accompanied by the Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Tsang Tak-sing, the Head of Veterinary Clinical Services of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Dr Christopher Riggs, and the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department’s quarantine officer, Dr Thomas Sit, for a tour of the stables when the horses arrived from the airport.

    ”The accompanying grooms have told us that they behaved well during the 11-hour flight from Amsterdam,” Dr Riggs said.

    ”I am sure that all horses will enjoy a good roll in the shavings, have a small feed or light exercise before settling in,” he added.

    Dr Sit said he was also pleased with this batch of arrivals as all documents on their behaviour during quarantine were in order.

Från SHA:

SHA inspects transportation of first batch of Olympic Equestrian horses
The Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Tsang Tak-sing, today (July 26) inspected the arrangements for transporting the first batch of Olympic Equestrian horses to the stables at the Olympic Equestrian Venue in Sha Tin after their arrival in Hong Kong.

Transportation of horses is highly professional work. Mr Tsang said he was delighted with today’s smooth process, including quarantine checks, transportation, and immigration and customs procedures for accompanying personnel.
He said, ”The smooth operation this morning demonstrates the prudent and careful preparatory work done by various Government departments and relevant organisations, such as the Equestrian Company, the Hong Kong Jockey Club and the Airport Authority.”
He said that there was a record number of horses participating in the Olympic Equestrian Events in Hong Kong, with about 220 horses, together with over 200 athletes, from some 40 countries/regions.
”The safety of the horses and their welfare is one of the HKSAR Government’s top priorities. It is also a great challenge for us.
”I am confident that transportation of other horses in the coming few days will also be carried out smoothly and safely, given the experience this morning, to enable the horses to compete in their best condition,” he added.
A total of 32 horses arrived in Hong Kong today. Upon their arrival on three separate flights, they were immediately transported to the stables in the Sha Tin venue from the airport. The horses came from seven countries: Belgium, Denmark, Korea, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Canada and Germany.
After observing the operation at Sha Tin stables, Mr Tsang visited the Hong Kong Olympic Village at the Royal Park Hotel in Sha Tin to see for himself the first day’s operations.