Question: How was your premiere at the Bird’s Nest?
Harrie Smolders: It is an absolutely impressive event here at the Bird’s Nest. This stadium is world-famous and being part of the show here is a wonderful experience. And in my opinion it is also super for the Chinese riders to be part of it.
Question: How do you assess the sporting competition with the Chinese riders?
Smolders: Of course, it is a bit of a gamble for us. Because of the quarantine regulations, we can’t compete on our own horses here, but actually ride borrowed horses. The equestrian sport lives from the riders knowing their horse inside out, that this partnership works one hundred percent in order to achieve the best result. Of course, this isn’t possible here because we compete on horses that we don’t know in advance and that we have to adapt to in just one day. So, the international riders have to have a stroke of luck to be allocated a horse that suits their style of riding. But the sporting aspect is not necessarily the most important one here…
Question: …it is much more about the development of the equestrian sport in China.
Smolders: Exactly. We are also ambassadors of the equestrian sport here in China. We get together with the Chinese riders, we try to convey to them what “horsemanship” means to us and why it is so important to see and understand the horse as a partner. I can imagine this makes a small contribution towards promoting the sport here.
What is your impression of the Chinese colleagues?
Smolders: I know the Chinese riders pretty well, I have been following the development of the sport in China for around ten years, I was also the coach of a national team at the “Chinese Games”. As such, I know very many of them, one rider trained together wither me in preparation for the Olympic Games in Beijing or rather the World Equestrian Games in Hong Kong as well. So I am very well acquainted with both the culture and the equestrian sport here in China. In the meantime, they have achieved a very good level and above all there is a high number of extremely promising riders. The situation was totally different ten years ago, a significant development is recognisable here.
Question: The Longines Equestrian Beijing Masters is a very different weekend for the international riders too.
Smolders: Yes, indeed, of course it is pretty relaxed here, being able to compete without the pressure that we normally have on a long show weekend. We namely only have one horse here and as such plenty of time for exchanges. I additionally took advantage of this occasion to take a look at the historical Hutongs in the Old Town of Beijing. Sightseeing is not normally on my agenda during a show weekend. One is totally focused on the sport and doesn’t let oneself be distracted by anything. This weekend in Beijing is an exception here. It is fun.