At the 2008 Olympics, equestrian events were held in Hong Kong ©Getty Images

International Equestrian Federation (FEI) President Ingmar De Vos has pledged to renew efforts to develop the sport in China after initial plans to do so were blocked by the COVID-19 crisis.

"We had appointed a regional development officer, mainly for China, but due to this two years standstill, we were not able to do anything, but we are picking it up and planning to go to China in the near future,” De Vos said,

"There has been tremendous development in China, the first time I went there in 2011, there were around 20 equestrian clubs, now there are 2,000."

Before the pandemic, a report by the Chinese Government estimated that there were more than 1.9 million riders registered with the 2,000 equestrian clubs across the country.

Liu Linan was China's first Olympic competitor in dressage at the 2008 Olympics ©Getty Images
Liu Linan was China's first Olympic competitor in dressage at the 2008 Olympics ©Getty Images

"There was a lot of sharing of knowledge, all the experts the Chinese people have used in order to develop the sport are mainly from Europe, so they have the right people there that started it up for them," De Vos continued.

"Our biggest concern is to transfer knowledge, we want the Chinese community to own the knowledge and not be dependent on experts from outside."

De Vos envisages the development of academies and education programmes for farriers, grooms and riders.

"It looks very good, the Chinese Equestrian Association people really understand the needs and we have a very good dialogue," De Vos added.

"For us China is a very important market, a developing market, because let’s be honest it’s an industry and we also want to see this industry flourishing in China."

Alex Hua Tin won eventing silver at the 2014 Asian Games, bronze in 2018 and was a member of China's first Olympic team in the discipline ©Getty Images
Alex Hua Tin won eventing silver at the 2014 Asian Games, bronze in 2018 and was a member of China's first Olympic team in the discipline ©Getty Images

The Chinese Equestrian Association was first registered with the FEI in 1983, but a Chinese team did not compete in the Olympics until 2008, when equestrian events were held in Hong Kong as part of the Beijing Games.

China entered dressage and jumping competitions.

Dressage rider Liu Lina was their first equestrian Olympian, placing 40th.

She was also part of China’s silver medal winning team at the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou.

In eventing, Alex Hua Tian won silver at the 2014 Asian Games and bronze in 2018 and was part of the first Chinese eventing team to take part in the Olympics.

Riding Don Geniro, he finished 25th in the individual competition.

China finished ninth in the team competition.

The Chinese Sports Ministry has now identified equestrianism as one of the ten core sports with medal potential earmarked for development.