BEIJING, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Olympic rider Alex Hua Tian became the first rider to win the FEI Awards twice, as the world equestrian governing body announced its annual award winners on Tuesday evening in Bahrain.
The Horsemanship Movement, co-founded by Hua and his friend Philip Wong, took the Solidarity Award, with five winners being selected from 20 nominees via a public vote and an exclusive panel of judges presented by the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) Family.
Hua, 29, previously won the Rising Star Award in 2009. "I am so excited about tonight's award for our Horsemanship Movement! Thank you to the FEI for recognizing the Horsemanship Team's vision and hard work," Hua said at the ceremony.
"Equestrianism has such an extraordinary potential in China but we also face considerable challenges," he said. "Philip and I founded the 'Horsemanship Movement' as a reaction to my biggest concern; equestrianism's unsustainably elitist image."
Founded in 2017, the Shanghai-based Horsemanship Movement has reached over 400 children through their basic two and a half hours stable management program. With the values of horsemanship at its core, the program uses the partnership with a horse to initiate a conversation in families, schools and communities about the importance of character-building and the place that team work, leadership, dedication and patience has in their future.
"I believe that the best way to learn is to enjoy the experience and then develop your own understanding with time and space. The Horsemanship Movement provides such an opportunity to all kids," Philip Wong said "We've started our program in Shanghai but our ambition has always been to get this program to as many kids in China as possible," he added.
Zhang Xiaoning, Chairman of the Chinese Equestrian Association, congratulated Hua in receiving the award. "We are grateful to the FEI for rewarding an equestrian charity project from China," Zhang said.
"We have a rich history of equestrian sportsmanship in China, and it is an integral part of our culture. It is our hope that Alex Hua Tian's 'Horsemanship Movement' will inspire more children to be interested and participate in equestrian athletics," he added.
As the youngest eventer ever to compete at an Olympics as well as Team China's first equestrian Olympian in 2008, Hua made history for China by finishing eighth in the eventing competition at Rio 2016. He has since spent more time promoting the sport in China.
"Our hope is that through demonstrating the values of horsemanship, we will change perceptions and help the wider community appreciate what is really at the heart of what we do: the partnership between horse and rider," Hua said.
