After rubbing shoulders with ‘truly amazing’ riders at Longines Masters, Jacqueline Lai set for rare Lunar New Year with family
Denmark-based Lai finishes 18th out of 20 on her 13-year-old stallion Basta and is looking forward to some down time with family
The final day of the Longines Masters was an eye-opener for Hong Kong’s Jacqueline Lai Jing-man but she was quick to shift her focus to birthday celebrations and a rare Lunar New Year spent with family.
Denmark-based Lai finished 18th out of 20 on her 13-year-old stallion Basta and she is now looking forward to some down time with family ahead of a hectic year that features the Asian Games in August followed by the World Equestrian Games in the United States.
“I can’t remember the last time I spent Chinese New Year with my family because I am always away,” Lai said. “It always feels good staying with your family for the big festival.”
Lai was not discouraged by her effort, saying she is a much better rider now than she was three years ago when she first took part in the event.
“I feel great even though I lost here today,” said Lai, who will be celebrating her 27th birthday this week. “I can’t be upset that I ranked behind these riders as they are truly amazing. It’s another learning experience which is really vital to my growth.
