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JEFFREY WONG \/ Hong Kong International Horse Show \/\/ 2025 \/\/\/ Photo by HKJC<\/p>\nWhen the LONGINES Hong Kong International Horse Show makes its grand return to AsiaWorld-Expo from January 30 to February 1 2026, one of Hong Kong racing\u2019s most accomplished figures will be watching with genuine admiration rather than competitive intent.<\/p>\n
Vincent Ho \u2013 four-time Tony Cruz Award winner, Group 1 jockey and the longtime partner of champion Golden Sixty \u2013 will be in the stands as a fan, captivated by a discipline that helped shape him long before he became one of the city\u2019s elite riders.<\/p>\n
For Ho, equestrian sport is not a curiosity or a novelty. It is part of his foundation.<\/p>\n
As a teenager, before embarking on his highly successful racing career, Ho spent two years training as an equestrian rider, learning to jump and immersing himself in a world that, while still centred on horses, operates on a very different philosophy.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe equestrian world is a different sport. It\u2019s still a horse \u2013 but a different breed,\u201d Ho says. \u201cThe riders\u2019 knowledge of the warmblood is more than we have of the thoroughbred. Those riders train their own horses over many years.\u201d<\/p>\n
That distinction, he explains, goes to the heart of why equestrian sport commands his respect.<\/p>\n
\u201cJockeys just ride, trainers just train \u2013 equestrian riders do both,\u201d Ho says. \u201cIn many ways it is way more technical.\u201d<\/p>\n
Unlike racing, where split-second decisions are made in traffic and success is often built on instinct, pace and positioning, equestrian disciplines demand a deeper, more intimate dialogue between rider and horse. The communication extends beyond reins and direction into balance, leg pressure, rhythm and feel.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn racing \u2013 especially in Hong Kong \u2013 we rely on pacing and getting into a good position,\u201d Ho explains. \u201cWe react lightning fast and focus on what\u2019s going on around us. But in showjumping, riders respond to their horse \u2013 not just direction, but the horse itself. They communicate through balance and legs, not just hands.\u201d<\/p>\n
That subtlety is what fascinates him most.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey have to make instant adjustments in mid-air,\u201d Ho says. \u201cThey don\u2019t just sit there and jump. There\u2019s a lot of hard work and experience behind it. They have a better understanding of the horse.\u201d<\/p>\n
JEFFREY WONG \/ Hong Kong International Horse Show \/\/ 2025 \/\/\/ Photo by HKJC<\/p>\n
![\"Patrick](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Patrick-Lam-1024x683.jpg\")
PATRICK LAM \/ Hong Kong International Horse Show \/\/ 2025 \/\/\/ Photo by HKJC<\/p>\n
Ho\u2019s appreciation is not academic. Even now, during his rehabilitation from injury, equestrian work continues to play a central role in both his physical recovery and his mental reset.<\/p>\n
He regularly travels to Hokkaido, Japan, where retired champion Golden Sixty now lives \u2013 a partnership that has taken on new meaning beyond racetrack glory. Riding Golden Sixty again, in a different context, has reconnected Ho with the fundamentals of horsemanship.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I go there, the instructor who rides him in the morning is 77,\u201d Ho says. \u201cWhen I arrive, he\u2019s doing dressage with Golden Sixty.\u201d<\/p>\n
The lessons are ongoing \u2013 and humbling.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t like memorising courses,\u201d Ho admits with a smile. \u201cBut he teaches me what to do, especially with retired horses. Warming up a horse properly is something I\u2019ve learnt from him. It\u2019s important for me to go there.\u201d<\/p>\n
That openness to learning, Ho says, only grows with experience.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe more experienced you are, the more you can learn. It\u2019s a never-ending process,\u201d he says. \u201cI\u2019ll stay curious always: understanding horses, riding them, training them.\u201d<\/p>\n
It is that mindset he hopes racing fans will bring with them to the LONGINES Hong Kong International Horse Show \u2013 a three-day celebration of elite equestrian sport featuring five-star international showjumping, youth competitions, musical rides showcasing retired racehorses and a broader lifestyle experience built around the horse.<\/p>\n
For racing fans in particular, Ho believes the show offers a rare chance to see horsemanship through a different lens.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn equestrian, eight or nine is considered a young horse,\u201d he explains. \u201cThey have years of experience. Once obstacles get up to 1.6 metres at five-star level, it becomes very difficult. The courses challenge stride patterns and decision-making. One of the most amazing things you will see is a rider making adjustments mid-air.\u201d<\/p>\n
The physical demands are immense. Tight turns, rapid reactions and precision balance test both rider and horse at the highest level.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe riders need great instincts and great touch,\u201d Ho says. \u201cKeeping balanced on tight turns takes a lot of effort. It\u2019s very interesting.\u201d<\/p>\n
As Hong Kong welcomes the Year of the Horse with the return of this landmark event, Ho\u2019s message is simple: come with an open mind, slow down, and appreciate the craft.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve benefited so much from what I\u2019ve learnt,\u201d he says. \u201cEven by watching, I keep learning.\u201d<\/p>\n
For a jockey who has ridden 600 winners, conquered the world stage and forged one of Hong Kong racing\u2019s greatest partnerships, that sense of curiosity \u2013 and respect for the horse \u2013 remains unchanged.<\/p>\n
And for three days at AsiaWorld-Expo, he\u2019ll be learning once more, just like everyone else. \u220e<\/p>\n
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David Morgan<\/p>\n
Golden Sixty Brings Light And Learning To Vincent Ho\u2019s Recovery<\/p>\n