Rio selection spurs auction for equine charity

via Horsetalk.

Alex Hua Tian’s Harbour Pilot C, taken by Matthew Seed and auctioned to benefit World Horse Welfare.

An auction of photographs in Shanghai of the horses ridden by Olympic eventer Alex Hua Tian has raised almost £3500 for international equine charity World Horse Welfare.

The striking images were donated by world-renowned photographer Matthew Seed.

The auction was held as part of an event hosted by The Hurun Report at The Roosevelt Club in Shanghai to celebrate Alex Hua Tian’s qualification for the Rio Olympics in August.

Alex Hua Tian made his Olympic debut in 2008 when he became the youngest eventer ever to compete at the Olympics and also the first to represent China in an Olympic equestrian event. Most recently, he achieved his first three-star international win on British soil when he won the second leg of the Event Rider Master series at the 2016 EquiTrek Bramham International Horse Trials.

Alex Hua Tian’s Diamond Sundance.

Alex Hua Tian has been a patron of World Horse Welfare since 2014 and has worked closely with the charity since first competing at Badminton Horse Trials in 2010. He has always been a dedicated advocate of the charity’s work, recently helping to raise awareness of World Horse Welfare’s Invisible Horse initiative.

“It’s really important for everyone to remember that there are hundreds and thousands of horses all over the world but also here in the UK that are invisible and suffering in silence,” he said.

“It is vital that we all take a moment to reflect on that fact and do our bit, every single one of us, do even just one little bit to help improve the lives of these horses.”

Matthew Seed has more than 25 years’ experience in fashion and fine art photography shooting for brands such as Gieves & Hawkes, Lacoste, Nike, Silver Cross and Selfridges. Described as the modern-day George Stubbs his fine art equestrian commissions include The National Stud, Zara Phillips, Sam Twiston-Davies, Trevor Breen and Laura Collett as well as sports personality and race yard owner, Michael Owen.

Alex Hua Tian’s Don Geniro.

He has been an avid supporter of World Horse Welfare’s work for many years, first holding an exhibition of photographs taken at the charity’s Penny Farm Rescue and Rehoming Centre in 2012.

“Alex was keen to raise awareness of World Horse Welfare at the Shanghai event and so I agreed to donate a framed fine art photograph of each of his three Olympic horses for a charity auction on the night.

“I’m thrilled that the event was a success and I am delighted to have helped raise funds for World Horse Welfare.”

World Horse Welfare Director of Fundraising, Emma Williams, said the charity was grateful to both Alex Hua Tian and Matthew Seed for organising the fundraising event.

“We’d also like to extend a big thank you to those who purchased the photographs and now not only have some beautiful new pieces of art but have helped improve lives of horses all over the world through their kind donations.”

Alex Hua Tian with young fans at The Roosevelt Club in Shanghai for the charity auction.