Weather a worry for equestrian events

Olympic organizers may postpone some equestrian events in Hong Kong if typhoons or extreme heat threaten the safety of the horses.

Emergency measures are being mapped out, Mark Pinkstone, spokesman for the Hong Kong equestrian committee, told reporters in Beijing today.

Bloomberg News quoted Pinkstone as saying, "We will only postpone if it's unsafe for the horses. We may postpone the start of an event for an hour or two if conditions proved to be unsafe."

Between April and November, Hong Kong typically faces heavy rain and extreme heat as typhoons and tropical storms sweep through the South China Sea.

Switzerland’s equestrian dressage team in January withdrew from the Olympics on concerns that its horses would be stressed by the journey and would struggle to adapt to conditions.

Hong Kong has built elite-level facilities, including stables equipped with air conditioners and misting fans to cool the horses, Pinkstone said.

-- Debbie Goffa

Photo: Tony Shea, Olympics stable manager, checks the stables at the equestrian site for the Olympic event in Hong Kong. Credit: Mike Clarke / AFP/Getty Images