British-based Chinese event rider Alex Hua Tian was the youngest event rider ever at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He has since competed at Badminton and Burghley and won a silver medal for China at the 2014 Asian Games.

Educated at Eton in Britain, Alex is now based at Pinfold Equestrian in Cheshire. The yard was formerly a top thoroughbred stud back in the 1960s. See pictures of Alex’s yard.

In November 2009 Alex won the inaugural HSBC Rising Star Award from the FEI and he became a patron for World Horse Welfare in 2014. He has qualified for the Rio 2016 Olympics with both Harbour Pilot C or Don Geniro.

Alex won the second leg of the Event Rider Masters class at Bramham 2016 on Don Geniro to take home a cheque for £16,000. He said at the time the money will “probably disappear into the black hole of horses” but he might treat himself and girlfriend Sarah Higgins to “something nice”.