Jennifer Lee

Hong Kong Hopes Ride with Lee

Jennifer Lee Ming Hua is a leading light in Hong Kong’s show-jumping circuit.

Her commitment sees her on the cusp of achieving many a child’s dream – to compete in the Olympic Games.

And while her current horse embodies the clichéd, rags to riches, story, Jennifer herself embodies the culture of her adopted country, Hong Kong.

Hers is a tale of trust, acceptance, ambition, and, ultimately, love.

“Hong Kong has nurtured me into the person I am today, with a career, a family and a passion – to ride”, says Jennifer, grateful of the opportunities Hong Kong has given her.

Born in to a family of distinction in America, Jennifer’s great-great grandfather was a war hero and US Congressman and was appointed Chief Justice of the US Federal Circuit Court of Appeals by US President, Woodrow Wilson.

But it was love that brought Jennifer to Hong Kong.

She met and married, Lee Kwok Tung (Sam), a talented businessman, based in America, who like his father, Henry Lee, and much of Jennifer’s extended family in Hong Kong, has made great contributions to the development of Hong Kong.

Indeed her father-in-law oversaw the development of the Ocean Park gondola, the World Trade Center, and fittingly, the stables at the Sha Tin racecourse, among others.

Horses were clearly in the young couple’s blood and the newly wed Jennifer, then 25, was given some show jumping lessons with legendary US trainer and Olympian, George Morris, by her adoring husband.

Little did the pair realise that this would put them on a path to Jennifer approaching representing her adopted country of Hong Kong, some 18 years later, which is how we find them today.

Business endeavours brought the young couple to Hong Kong in 1991 and Jennifer quickly embraced the culture of her new home.

But this came at a cost.
Jennifer was willing to forfeit her training with George Morris and potential representation of America in international competition to follow her husband.

But, Jennifer says, “When I came to Hong Kong my life began to change. The culture of my adopted Chinese family became more ingrained within me and, having children here brought me even more appreciation for their heritage which I am proud to be a part of.”

Alongside her career – Jennifer is a contributing editor at CFO Asia Magazine – Jennifer has two children, Jacqueline, 5, and Jonathan, 9, but her work and family extends well beyond this.

In becoming members of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Jennifer extended her knowledge of both horsemastership and Cantonese and, though many riders of her calibre arriving in the country could have capitalised on their previous achievements for commercial gain, Jennifer was determined to push the boundaries for both herself and her new compatriots.

Her previous training and natural talent quickly earned her recognition – she assisted in rehabilitating Chance Bid, an ex-racehorse, into the international event horse that put fellow Olympic hopeful, teenager Alex Hua Tian, on the map; and with her own, You Bet, a diminutive 15.1hh former racehorse that she nurtured back to health following a leg injury, she won the Hong Kong Puissance record – clearing a staggering and un-assailed 1.70m – well over the height of horse and rider!

But Jennifer is not just intent on achieving her own goals and, struck by the generosity of the community around her, has become an integral part of its development. 

She has worked, voluntarily, on the board of the Hong Kong Pony Club for nearly 10 years – helping children learn how to ride and care for horses, and visits many training establishments in the region, inspiring others to follow her example.

She has therefore been instrumental in Hong Kong achieving a high standard in equestrian sport – her home, sporting and business life all highlighting just what can be achieved in a country that openly embraces new cultures and cultivates opportunity.

She arrived in Hong Kong as an accomplished rider, sought to improve the standards of those around her, further her own ability and in a fitting twist of fate now has the opportunity of putting those endeavours on the Olympic map, enabling her adopted country to show its world class status.

“Hong Kong has made me the rider I am today”, declares Jennifer.

And her endeavours do not cease there - she and her dog, Gogo, also visit schools to help teach children English and understand animals and, the other end of the spectrum, she’s survived being under the spotlight with her video, ‘Come With Me’, winning RTHK’s Glamour of Sport video competition.

However, encouraging others to join in Jennifer’s journey is now crucial to her Olympic success.

In purchasing Mr Burns, Jennifer risked everything for her Olympic ambition – a proven athlete herself she knew that without a horse of equal calibre, that ambition would be but a dream.

Mr Burns is a perfect match.

Jennifer herself is possibly Hong Kong’s most prolific medal winner, including a haul of medals from every competition she has attended since 2000 while wearing the Bauhinia, and in addition has won the Advanced level of the FEI World Jumping Challenge three times, achieving a world ranking of 11th for that competition.

Mr Burns was Australia’s most successful show jumping horse since the 1960s.

Rescued for the princely sum of A$350 by meat-wagon owners, he went on to partner Rod Brown to secure numerous titles, finally representing Australia at the World Equestrian Games in Germany and taking the Australian Showjumping Champion title, last year.

The former owner of Mr Burns, Cathy Chapman, once said, “We have had some big offers but made a pact years ago that if he turned out the way we hoped, he would be kept for the country.”

Mr Burns has done more than ever deemed possible for Australian show jumping and thus was allowed to transfer ownership for a seven-figure sum but only to a special rider.

That rider is Jennifer. 

She was known to Mr Burns’ former rider and formidable trainer, Rod Brown, and he has put such trust in the new partnership that he now trains them, resolving to help Mr Burns give another country and another rider the recognition they deserve.

However, it seems it will take something of a fairy godmother to help Jennifer’s Olympic dream come true.

Another horse will need to be purchased, and supported, in order for Jennifer to qualify for the Games.

Two have even been earmarked for the task, but until a Hong Kong owner joins the team, Jennifer must wait on tenderhooks, hoping another nation will not take them away from her.

To secure them would surely be justly deserved for Jennifer, who says, “To compete for Hong Kong is a tremendous honour and one I take very seriously”, adding, “I have been humbled and awed by the support shown by the Hong Kong community for my endeavour and the sacrifices made by my own family.  I only hope someone can step in and help us all over the final hurdle.

Anna Bruce, Horse and Hound, UK