Natasha Tse’s journey to becoming an equestrian athlete

As the Year of the Horse dawns, you can expect to hear warm exchanges of the auspicious phrase ma dao gong cheng – literally, “success when the horse arrives”. For Natasha Tse Pui-ting, an equestrian athlete who has represented Hong Kong, China at four Paralympic Games, it’s an expression with added significance. Horses are central to her life’s happiest moments and greatest achievements.

How Tse got into horse-riding

Watching Tse mount her horse, it’s clear the saddle is where she’s at her most powerful. Seeming to sprout wings, she glides around the sand arena with unwavering command and exceptional grace. Any physical limitations are forgotten.

Born prematurely at 29 weeks, Tse was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, a condition which affects her mobility. At the age of five, she discovered therapeutic riding thanks to the Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) Hong Kong, a charitable organisation that was founded more than half a century ago.

Soon, Tse had forged an unshakeable bond with horses that would shape the rest of her life. “Unlike other children, I was never frightened of horses; I found them lively and endearing,” she recalls. “Horses read your every expression – show fear and they’ll take advantage.”

Tse often jokes about being a “tumbler doll” – wobbling when walking or sitting – but seated on a horse, everything changes. “My perspective literally rises. The view expands, and riding teaches me balance in ways nothing else can.”

The therapeutic benefits of riding are profound. The rhythmic gait of a horse closely mirrors human walking patterns; for individuals with cerebral palsy, this helps to relax muscles and improve coordination, while building all-important confidence. The RDA provides complimentary riding lessons to children and adults with physical disabilities and those facing mental health challenges. Structured training and interactive sessions can help students with diagnoses like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, by improving their focus and communication skills.

Since 2005, RDA has offered intensive training for students who show promise. In 2014, it established the RDA Equestrian Academy to raise training standards for disabled athletes in Hong Kong.

Tse is herself a beneficiary of this programme, working with coaches like Sarah Sing to keep her skills ever-sharp.

“Equestrianism is tremendously challenging,” says Sing. “You’re perched atop an animal with its own will – it’s difficult to control and inherently risky. Natasha’s intelligence has enabled her to overcome every obstacle; she sets an example for others in similar circumstances. That said, the pressures of competition take a toll. My hope is to help her rediscover the simple joy of riding.”

Getting back in the saddle

Tse’s Paralympic ambitions stem from watching the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics on TV. “I saw an equestrian competitor without arms who held the reins in his teeth. That image moved me profoundly; it inspired me to one day become an athlete and represent Hong Kong.”

Her determination and self-discipline knew virtually no limits. Despite missing out on being selected for the Hong Kong team at 11, she refused to be discouraged; instead, she intensified her training: “I desperately wanted to be chosen. I studied senior riders’ techniques meticulously, learnt from online videos and pursued additional training after school, constantly targeting my weaknesses.”

Fortune favours the prepared. Tse was chosen to represent Hong Kong, China at the London 2012 Paralympic Games. At just 15 years old, she was the youngest equestrian competitor that year.

Tse’s event, Para dressage, is the equestrian version of ballet, demanding perfect harmony between horse and rider. Training before a big event is as rigorous as it is relentless, requiring both physical and mental fortitude – especially when setbacks occur. During a rehearsal before the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, Tse’s horse bolted, throwing her to the ground. The memory still haunts her: “My lower body went numb for several minutes. I feared I might never walk properly again, let alone ride.” Of course, ride again she did, with greater skill and confidence than ever.

She eschews words like “difficulty” – every obstacle is merely a “challenge”. “Horses are both teachers and friends to me. They persistently help me complete competitions, and their unwavering spirit inspires me to face life’s challenges with greater courage.”

Now retired from competition, Tse has two new goals: to become Hong Kong’s first disabled equestrian coach and to serve as an advocate for the city’s disabled community.

“I want to repay my family, the RDA and the Hong Kong Jockey Club [a sponsor of the RDA] for their support by continuing to contribute to the equestrian world.”

With her boundless energy, positivity and conviction, there seems little doubt she’ll succeed.

About the Riding For The Disabled Association

Established in 1975, the RDA provides equestrian rehabilitation for anyone aged six and above with physical, intellectual or mental disabilities. Classes are held at Hong Kong Jockey Club public riding schools in Tuen Mun, Lei Yue Mun and Pok Fu Lam. Following a three-year renovation, the newly reopened Pok Fu Lam headquarters now features an all-weather indoor arena for year-round training.