Founder's Speech - Zoe Quin
Ladies and gentlemen, friends from the equestrian community, and horse lovers,
Welcome to the inaugural business luncheon of the China Horse Business Club. My name is Zoe Quin, founder of this club.
I served as the China representative of French Horse Industry for 8 years, during which I facilitated comprehensive cooperation between two countries. In 2018, I established WonderHorse, a consulting firm focused on providing business solutions for equestrian institutions and brands both in China and abroad.
More importantly, during this period, I launched China Horse Business, the first English podcast in the market introducing the Chinese equestrian industry to an international audience. To date, the podcast has aired 133 episodes, attracting over 50,000 targeted listeners, with 43% of them from Europe, 25% from Asia, 17% from North America, and 10% from Oceania.
During the pandemic, my co-hosts and I creatively launched China Horse Business LIVE - a monthly webinar connecting international stakeholders and Chinese decision-makers. We organized these webinars once a month and for 22 consecutive months, allowing equestrian professionals from both China and abroad to stay connected. The speakers and brands were represented from 13 countries and regions across the globe. Three major international official association partners collaborated as strategic partners, offering support and sponsorship for the project. Over 50 Chinese and foreign brands, companies, and associations, as well as more than 50 domestic and international speakers, showcased their products and services. More than 2,000 online registered attendees joined in, with the majority being decision-makers and senior managers within the Chinese equestrian industry.
All these initiatives, like waves, have propelled us to the crest of creating the China Horse Business Club. We have recognized the keen interest from the international equestrian community in the burgeoning Chinese equestrian market, and conversely, the domestic thirst for external information and resources during a period of upgrading and transformation. The China Horse Business Club aims to provide a platform for continuous communication and exchanges through monthly offline business luncheons and thematic business matchmaking sessions, and to facilitate cooperation and transactions by understanding member needs and analyzing data, striving to be a quality, efficient, and result-oriented business center, and a bridge for international equestrian exchange.
The China Horse Business Club will also expand the imagination of cross-over collaboration. Just a few days ago, the Brand Director of Li Xiang Electric Vehicle contacted us, willing to join the Club. However, due to the national holiday, they were ultimately unable to attend today's luncheon. But their desire to intersect with the Chinese equestrian community is very apparent, so as many other brands beyond our industry. We aim to serve as an information hub for them, matching and referring different equestrian resources based on their specific needs.
In my view, entrepreneurship is all about taking over the freedom of endless innovation. The launch of every new project is not only opportunistic but also a step of the comfort zone. I sincerely hope that the China Horse Business Club can empower young entrepreneurs and business leaders within our industry. We shall work together and make the Chinese horse industry more diversified and vibrant.
Thank you all !
Next, I would like to hand over to the Secretary-General of the China Horse Business Club, Vivian Wu. Vivian was educated and grew up in the United States, where she has long been involved in promoting equestrian culture and polo events. She is also an expert in advertising and brand creativity. Please welcome Vivian to introduce our keynote speakers today.
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Panel Discussion | 圆桌对谈
Vivian: Good afternoon, everyone! I am Vivian Wu, General secretary of the China Horse Business Club. It's my pleasure to introduce our guests from Australia for the panel discussion. I will switch to English now for our conversation.
Vivian:大家下午好。我是武一格，中外马业商务俱乐部的秘书长。我很荣幸向大家介绍我们今天的圆桌对谈嘉宾Timothy Court先生，他是国际有名的马术场地规划和设计专家，他曾主持设计了2008年北京奥运会在香港举办的马术赛事的场地；以及他的夫人Jennifer Court女士，她是一位国际马联二级盛装舞步教练和经验丰富的骑手。在过去的三十多年间，他们共同运营他们在澳大利亚的马术俱乐部并参与国际大型马术俱乐部的设计。让我们掌声欢迎Timothy和Jennifer.
Vivian : 欢迎两位。你们能从澳大利亚远道而来，真是太棒了！你们对上海之行的感受如何？
Timothy / Jennifer:（即兴回答）
Vivian: Court先生，你专注于马术场地规划和设计已经有40多年了。这是一个源自热爱的选择还是一个偶然的机缘让你投身于这个小众的领域？
Timothy:一开始完全是偶然。当时我就职于一个大型建筑师事务所，被指派成为悉尼一个大型马术项目的建筑项目主管。之后，我在1983年成立了自己的建筑师事务所，并把它发展成为世界上四大马术专业事务所之一。
我们主导的项目包括悉尼2000奥运会和北京2008奥运会马术场地，并受邀参与了雅典和伊斯坦布尔奥运会的竞标。
我们还在亚洲，特别是中国，参与了一些达到国际标准的马术和赛马场地规划和项目，而且根据这些国家的政策，一般我们都需要和当地建筑设计团队一起合作。
Vivian: 很多马术中心和俱乐部，就像悉尼的奥运马术中心，会藏身于郊外大自然之中。但是，随着行业的普及，我们也看到越来越多的马术场地在城市里出现。根据你的经验，你对马术场地从郊野到城市中心的转移怎么看？如果你能为正在筹划在市中心搭建马术场地的马场主提供一个宝贵建议，那将会是什么？
Timothy: 当然，这首先取决于这个场地只是用来做临时性的比赛场地还是要成为日常养马调马的固定训练中心。
对于比赛场地而言，需要留出足够的空间让马匹可以每天走出马厩和放松，不仅仅是在赛场里，而是一些可以慢步的空间让马匹看到不同的轻松的场景。
对于日常养马和训练的固定场地而言，有两点非常重要：一是确保整个场地有足够大的面积，可以为马匹提供足够的空间和时间在草地上放松，最好是靠近一个大的开放空间，比如说一个森林或公园，这样马匹可以时不时地在自然的环境里自由地活动。
长远来说，没有生活在这样环境中的马匹永远没有足够的动力冲击健康和运动性能的最高点。
第二点是整体规划马术场地。有很多客户来找我的时候，我发现他们的场地都是一个逐步推进的计划，在一开始就缺乏对未来的远见和规划。所以，我们经常被迫在一个规划非常糟糕的场地里辗转腾挪地放入各种功能性场地和设施。我总是尝试说服客户在项目选址阶段就应该让我们介入，这样可以最大限度地保证马术场地功能的完整性和保障马匹福利。
马术项目和俱乐部正在中国迅猛发展。我认为对于马场主来说，从项目之初就规划好未来的发展至关重要，特别是有越来越多的马术场地正从郊区重新搬到市区。
Vivian: Court女士，在上海，我们也有很多盛装舞步骑手。你觉得为什么在世界范围内我们没有像环球马术冠军赛这样商业化和有影响力的盛装舞步大赛呢？
Jennifer: 如果有的这话将会是多么美好的事呀！但很可惜事与愿违。没有达成的原因我想大多是因为观众对盛装舞步缺乏兴趣和投资。
马术障碍的确可以吸引更多受众，比赛速度更快，场面更刺激，而且更容易向新观众介绍规则。很多时候只要看一下马匹有没有打杆就能明白。
盛装舞步则要求观众具备大量的知识储备去搞清楚评分规则，要知道怎么判罚分，明白达到人马配合是多么地困难而且要花费多么巨量的时间。
我认为观众对这项运动缺乏了解使得赛事组织者难以筹措足够的赞助资金去举办像浪琴环球马术冠军赛这样的大型比赛，也难以吸引电视台去转播盛装舞步赛事。
讽刺的是，盛装舞步训练是所有优秀的马术障碍马应该打下的根基。如果马匹有更多的平衡感、柔韧性和灵活度，它就更有机会成为一匹顶尖的马术障碍马，更有机会获胜。
Vivian: 作为参与过很多国际马术项目的专家，你们对中国马术市场的前景有什么展望？
Timothy/Jennifer: 中国对马匹和马术的关注正在迅速升温。在我看来，这得益于中国人民生活质量的快速提高，以及大多源自于中国父母对小孩参与精英体育运动的初衷。
马术运动不仅需要初学者掌握新的技能和体能，而且要求他们和一种动物建立个人情感联结，这需要投注更多的关切和理解。
要想在这项运动中取得成功，骑手需要在一个户外环境中倾注非常多的时间、专注、耐心和资金。在某种程度上，这项运动也为当今被社交网络和科技席卷的生活方式提供了另一种可以喘息的选择。
这种选择的存在正是保证行业可以持续增长的关键。
Vivian: 感谢Court先生和夫人今天与我们分享你们的观点和洞察。请二位回到座位稍事休息，享受接下来的精彩内容。
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