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In pictures: horse play in Hong Kong, from the 1970s to the 2000s

A look at how the city’s public horseback riding schools opened the gates to a sport long associated with private clubs and privilege

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Children show off their skills at the Pok Fu Lam Public Riding School in Hong Kong in 1987. Photo: SCMP Archives
Alexander Mak

Horse riding in Hong Kong has long been the preserve of the upper crust, with the high cost of keeping a horse limiting it primarily to the wealthy in this densely populated, space-starved city.

In the 1970s, the Hong Kong Jockey Club took a pioneering step to democratise the sport, establishing public riding schools, including the Pok Fu Lam Riding School (established in 1978) and later, the Tuen Mun Riding School (opened in 1994).

These schools were designed to provide access to horse riding for people from all walks of life, including those with disabilities.

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Join us as we look back through the South China Morning Post’s picture archives to see how these schools brought the world of equestrianism to a much wider audience.

Disabled and non-disabled riders at the Pok Fu Lam school in 1978. The sessions are designed to help restore co-ordination and mobility in physically disabled riders. Photo: SCMP Archives
Disabled and non-disabled riders at the Pok Fu Lam school in 1978. The sessions are designed to help restore co-ordination and mobility in physically disabled riders. Photo: SCMP Archives
Lady Margaret Noel MacLehose, wife of Governor Murray MacLehose and founder of the Hong Kong branch of the Riding for the Disabled Association, receives two Palomino horses from the president of RJ Reynolds Tobacco Asia Pacific, Lester Pullen, at the newly opened Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Pok Fu Lam Public Riding School in 1978. Photo: SCMP Archives
Lady Margaret Noel MacLehose, wife of Governor Murray MacLehose and founder of the Hong Kong branch of the Riding for the Disabled Association, receives two Palomino horses from the president of RJ Reynolds Tobacco Asia Pacific, Lester Pullen, at the newly opened Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Pok Fu Lam Public Riding School in 1978. Photo: SCMP Archives
Disabled children enjoy a fun day sponsored by British Airways at the Pok Fu Lam school in 1984. Photo: SCMP Archives
Disabled children enjoy a fun day sponsored by British Airways at the Pok Fu Lam school in 1984. Photo: SCMP Archives
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