Para-dressage riders Timothy Tsang Tin-chi and Louie Lam Lok-yee are set to represent Hong Kong at the upcoming FEI World Championships in Aachen, Germany, next month, with hopes of using the event as preparation for the Asian Games in Japan in September.
Tsang, 31, has been involved in para-equestrian sports since childhood after being introduced to horse riding as a form of rehabilitation. Born in 1995 with a severe leg impairment that initially left him unable to support his weight, Tsang took up riding at age nine to improve his mobility and balance. Over the years, horse riding has helped him strengthen his coordination and confidence, and he has competed internationally, including at the 2018 World Equestrian Games and the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics. At the Asian Championships in Pattaya, Thailand, Tsang finished fourth in the Grade III individual event and, alongside teammates Louie Lam and Fleur Mei Kuen Maria Schrader, secured a team silver medal.
“Because our legs aren’t good, riding actually helps us train our balance,” Tsang said. He expressed a strong emotional connection to horses, noting that the interaction brings him joy and deepens his bond with the animals. Tsang views the upcoming World Championships as an opportunity to refine his skills, describing the event as a valuable “warm-up” for the Asian Games.
Joining Tsang in Aachen is 17-year-old Lam, who was born with congenital lower-limb paralysis and has used a wheelchair since childhood. Lam, a Grade II rider, has been part of the Hong Kong para-dressage team for two years and is making his World Championships debut in Germany. He aims to gain experience by observing riders from around the world and learning how they handle various challenges during competition.
“There will be top competitors from around the world with far more experience,” Lam said. “I want to use this opportunity to learn from riders from different regions, observe how they adapt to unexpected environmental factors on the field and apply those lessons to perform better.”
Lam also cited the support of veteran riders like Tsang in helping to ease his pre-competition nerves. He said his initial introduction to horse riding came through a family friend and courses offered by the Riding for the Disabled Association, which helped him develop balance, coordination, and confidence. Despite initial apprehension due to the horses’ imposing presence, Lam said he grew to appreciate the animals' sensitivity to human emotions.
Looking ahead, Lam expressed his commitment to representing Hong Kong on international stages with the aim of earning further accolades. Both riders embody the sport’s potential not only as competitive athletes but also as examples of how para-equestrian activities can enhance physical and emotional well-being through connection with horses.