Rider Profile: Natasha Lee

HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB YOUTH EQUESTRIAN SQUAD MEMBER NATASHA LEE BONDS WITH HORSES THROUGH TRAINING, COMPETING AND HACKING!

I started riding when I was 9 years old. I train at the HKJC Beas River Equestrian Centre in Sheung Shui. My long term goal is to ride professionally for Hong Kong and to compete internationally.

My favourite equestrian discipline is showjumping. I love the adrenaline rush and the feeling of going over the jumps. I like that the competition requires you to focus all of your attention in that one minute, where you demonstrate all of your training and hard work in that one round.

I currently train at Beas River Equestrian Centre in Hong Kong. We have jumping or flatwork lessons every 1-2 times a week. I hack at least once a week and do flatwork most of the time with my horse. I like that there is a community there and the facilities are amazing. I would recommend also riding overseas to experience everything! I have ridden in many other neighbouring Asian countries and I am always very impressed at how the sport is developed in those places.

I train in Taiwan on short weekends or breaks whenever I had time off of school so it was usually very direct with the training aim. For me, that was to jump as much as possible and to ride as many different horses possible. As I didn't have these opportunities with Hong Kong, he helped me gain a lot more confident and experience in showjumping.

My most memorable competition was in Taiwan when I achieved the Certificate of Capability at the FEI World Jumping Challenge in Category A (120-130). I had attempted to get it so many times, failing so many times and when I finally achieved it felt unreal. I think it was all a combination of mental and physical factors along with having the most amazing horse. The horse I rode was called Bai Bai (白白). He was so honest and saved me so many times. It was also one of first Category A in an FEI World Jumping Challenge and I was so nervous. I still remember the confidence he gave me though, I wouldn't have been able to do it without all of his help. I think these factors all correlated as mentally, I had attempted it once before and failed, I was so determined not to fail again. Physically, we had trained a lot during the upcoming weeks to the show, I had felt much more confident in my own ability and comfortable after getting to know Bai Bai.

“Sometimes I don’t listen to my horse enough. It is important to TALK TO YOUR HORSE because they can understand you . Also try to KEEP THEM HAPPY all the time! ”

The Hong Kong Masters was very exhilarating and such an amazing experience. Although the horse I was allocated was extremely strong for me and I was a bit embarrassed because I didn't have the prettiest round, I learned to be proud of myself. This is because I had only ridden the horse three times before and I had never imagined riding in front of such a big audience and in one of the most prestigious competitions ever. The atmosphere was so incredible but it also made me so nervous. As I had followed the Longines Masters since 2015, I have always been a big fan and one of my goals was to ride in that ring.

My favourite athlete is Laura Klaphake. She has an amazing style and rides so well. I think she's also very resilient and perseveres despite having to sell her top horse, which a lot of professional riders have to go through as well.

The must-watch competitions are the Global Champions Tour, Rolex Grand Slam, Aachen, and Beijing Masters. It used to be the HK Masters but that got cancelled.

My most memorable trail riding experience took place at Eindhoven Manege. I found it through my trainer. It was in the Netherlands in the woods where the trail led to a lake. The horse and I went inside the lake and it was really fun because it felt like we were swimming.

Follow Natasha on @natlee.eq

Rider ProfileCharade WooSeptember 29, 2020Natasha LeeComment