Taiwan pre-teen show jumpers keen to ride the world

A pair of pre-teen siblings from Taiwan who competed in one of the world's top jumping shows hope to tour across the world on horseback.

Liu Youcheng, 12, and his sister, Liu Yutian, 11, became a sensation after competing in the youth group of the 2018-2019 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup China League at Tianjin’s Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club on Saturday.

Unlike their fire on their horses, the young riders seemed shy in front of the lens. However, Youcheng, the fourth place finisher, could not help sharing his sophistication as a show jumper.

"I learned to be an equestrian at as young as four and have come through ups and downs ... I have participated in many, many competitions."

He said his eight-year-old mare, Cancara, is so extraordinary as to clear all the obstacles, even though they had bad timing at some of the fences. The horse from Germany arrived in China in September and was paired with the boy in March after the mare recovered from hoof injury.

Yutian spoke adoringly of her brother, who received zero penalties with his new mount. She said she was tense because she was the youngest in Saturday's youth competition. She was penalized eight points and ranked 12th among the 46 competitors.

The youth race was 490m long, with 11 obstacles of 60 to 90 cm high and an 84 second time limit. ?

"A" students at school, the duo were not flippant about their schoolwork before arriving at the course to get warmed-up on Friday night.

The siblings are horse owners at an equestrian club based in Guangzhou, where they go to school. Yutian is going to compete in Shanghai and Thailand, representing a Beijing club in May.

Their parents credit their children's well-bred manners to their equestrian activities.

"They have to learn to take care of their horse friends and do everything by themselves," said their father, adding they will tour with the league in Chengdu in May and Beijing in October.

"Training is dull," said their mother. "You do the same thing day after day … that is life."