Hong Kong’s largest cargo handling agent – has handled all 62 horses competing in the prestigious Longines Hong Kong Masters. It is the third successive year that Hactl has handled the event’s equine show jumping stars, representing one of the largest horse handling assignments in the company’s 38 year history.
This year, 28 of the world’s top riders and their horses competed in CSI 5* classes, to win various unique and breathtaking competitions in pursuit of a total prize fund of US$ 1 million. Hactl handled all 62 animals on their arrival from Liege, on board a freighter flight operated by carrier Emirates SkyCargo. The horses were unloaded from the aircraft and transferred to Hactl’s Livestock Handling Centre, specially located to minimise exposure to potentially stressful ramp noise. The horses were ferried to the Centre in their air stalls, and then utilising a specially-designed gently-sloping ramp to prevent leg injuries they boarded waiting air-conditioned horse-boxes arranged by The Hong Kong Jockey Club. Hactl repeated the entire exercise a week later for the departing animals. It deployed a team of highly-trained equine professionals, to assist in handling the high value animals on arrival and departure. Throughout the event, Hactl worked closely with official forwarder DB Schenker. Organiser EEM World commented “The Longines Hong Kong Masters was once again an unqualified success, and has firmly made its mark as Asia’s premier equestrian event. The excellent work of Hactl played a significant role in ensuring the safe arrival, transfer and departure of the star show jumping horses to ensure they compete at top level”. Adds Nabil Sultan, Emirates Divisional Senior Vice President, Cargo: “We are proud to have been chosen to be the carrier for this exciting and prestigious event, giving us the opportunity to showcase our expertise in horse transportation. Our long-standing, close working relationship with Hactl helped to ensure that everything went entirely to plan.”
Hactl Chief Executive Mark Whitehead comments: “We were delighted to be involved in this high-profile event for the third year running, and to be entrusted once again with the handling of its valuable equine competitors.” “Hactl’s state-of-the-art Livestock Handling Centre has again proved its worth, contributing to a safe and stress-free transition on arrival and departure. This facility is proving to be a significant element in Hong Kong’s ability to attract such top-level equestrian events.”