Cathay Cargo has flown around 70 horses to Hong Kong for the Longines Hong Kong International Horse Show taking place later this week.
Working with the show organisers, Cathay Cargo planned a charter flight from Liège Airport in Belgium using one of its Boeing 747 freighters to carry most of the showjumping and specialist high-jump puissance horses to Hong Kong on the aircraft’s maindeck.
They were accompanied by four grooms, who were charged with looking after the horses to ensure they were comfortable on the flight.
The remaining horses, including Shetland ponies – which will be ridden by child jockeys in the event’s “Shetland Pony Grand National”, were flown to Hong Kong by Cathay Cargo from London’s Heathrow Airport on scheduled 747 freighter services.
Cathay director cargo Tom Owen said: “We are proud to be the official airline partner of the Hong Kong International Horse Show as it makes its debut in Hong Kong this February.
“We have flown in around 70 of the world’s finest sports horses based in Europe from Liège and London to Hong Kong, ensuring they were well taken care of and that they arrived in the best condition for their highly anticipated performances.”
The Longines show will be held at AsiaWorld-Expo from 14-16 February. The event, which sees top-flight equestrianism and show jumping returning to Hong Kong for the first time in more than five years, will feature international show jumpers in competition, along with other equine entertainment across three days.
Over 25,000 attendees from Hong Kong and the rest of the Greater Bay Area (GBA) are expected at the event, which will feature some of the world’s best show jumpers over three days of competition.
