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Hangzhou youth gallop into a new era
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WHEN Liu Hanwen took up equestrianism as a hobby 18 months ago his parents were surprised at the benefits that came along with it.
His mother says her 13-year-old son has learned patience, compassion and self-discipline. But the biggest surprise of all has been the number of enrollment offers from overseas middle schools.
Liu’s mom said he listed equestrianism as a hobby on his enrollment applications mostly as an afterthought, but the foreign schools “were very interested” in his interest in the sport.
The teenager isn’t the only one who has found equestrianism can lead to a shortcut to being recruited by foreign middle schools.
Last month, 14-year-old Guo Tian, who won two gold medals and one bronze at the 2013 Shanghai Equestrianism Open Tournament, received an offer from St Andrew’s College, a top Canadian school for boys. The college only accepts an average of 70 students annually from more than 30 countries.
Equestrian skill helps
With the growth of the middle and upper classes in China’s developed cities, sending children overseas for middle school has become more common. And parents here are finding that extracurricular activities like equastrianism are important to these schools.
“A majority of our child members are preparing for their future life in another country,” said Chen Xiaoling, manager of Hangzhou B&J Equitation Chamber.
Chen said he knows of a dozen students who have been accepted into foreign middle schools in part because of their equastrian skills.
“It helps students make a good impression, and parents believe knowledge of equestrianism will help their kids fit in better with their oversees peers,” Chen added.
Chinese parents routinely send children to extra classes although they usually focus on academics. Equestrianism is thus new, expensive, and, some would say, not very necessary compared to English, writing, and math classes.
Equestrianism costs a minimum of 2,000 yuan (US$320) a month while a horse will set you back around 200,000 yuan.
Chen said three years ago 70 percent of club members were adults. But this has come full circle and 70 percent of its 400 members are now children.
The city government team up with Hangzhou B&J to establish Hangzhou Adolescent Equestrianism Team in 2012. It is supported by the government and all 30 team members are recognized as athletes, which entitles them to subsidies. However, every athlete needs to buy his or her own horse.
“We hope the team can help develop the elegant sport,” said Zhao Rongfu, director of the Hangzhou Sports Bureau, which sponsors the team.
Li Mengjing, deputy secretary general of the Hangzhou Equestrianism Association, said promoting the sport among children and teenagers is also “a way to decrease the cost of running and maintaining the horse club.”
The city two months ago held its first Hangzhou Middle and Elementary School Students Equestrianism Championship. The event included dressage, obstacles, combined riding and a theory test.
This August the team is to participate in the National Adolescent Equestrianism Championship, competing against the country’s other top adolescent equestrian clubs.
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