Find out what Alex Hua Tian said is sometimes an issue when riding the talented Jilsonne Van Bareelhof
Alex Hua Tian piloted Jilsonne Van Bareelhof into second place this morning in the Bicton Horse Trials dressage for the CCI4*-S section, at this event supported by Chedington.
“I’m really pleased – he’s such a lovely animal,” said Alex. “He is talented in all three phases and really, really wants to do it and actually that’s sometimes his issue – he’s fresh all the time and he always has endless energy. He always wants to be at 100% and it’s just trying to settle him enough to be able to do his job.”
The 12-year-old, owned by Adam, Angelina and Lin Guo and Qianru Yi, is known as Chocs “because he’s big, Belgian and brown,” as Alex put it.
He hit the headlines last month with fourth place at Houghton CCIO4*-S.
“That test wasn’t quite as relaxed as at Houghton, but I think Houghton was the first time I’ve properly run him quickly and I think that’s a little bit gone to his head,” said Alex.
Horse & Hound Newsletter
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
Alex’s second and third place cut a swathe through the otherwise entirely British top eight in this section, which is dominated by the Team GB Olympic nominated horses who performed yesterday morning.
Tom McEwen (Toledo De Kerser) and Ros Canter (Allstar B) share fourth on 23, with Piggy March (Brookfield Inocent) and Kitty King (Vendredi Biats) in equal sixth on 23.1.
Oliver Townend holds eighth on Cooley Master Class, who is on the Olympic reserve nomination list.
Chris Burton is ninth for Australia on Clever Louis, with Alex appearing on the leaderboard again in 10th on PSH Convivial, who is likely to be his second choice horse for the Tokyo Olympics behind Don Geniro.
Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now
Pippa is a true eventing geek and has been H&H’s eventing editor since 2005. She has first-hand experience of competing up to British Eventing intermediate and international CCI2*-L level, and has worked in the industry on a top event yard. Pippa enjoys nothing more than immersing herself in the sport at the highest level, reporting from the five-stars and international championships, including the Olympics.
