Equestrian executive

Amanda Bond, head of equestrian affairs at the Hong Kong Jockey Club, on her career path that includes working as a fire-eater, late-night online meetings in PJs and eye-opening celebrations in a drag club

- Leslie Bliss

I didn’t come from a horsey family, but have always been obsessed with horses. One of my earliest memories is sitting on a rocking horse at my grandmother’s, watching Horse of the Year Show on TV, joining in as best I could.

I badgered my parents for a pony and they finally relented when I was 10. I competed in the usual competitions, but dressage was always my favourite. I wasn’t a talented rider, so I knew that if I wanted to be involved in top-level sport, I had to find a way other than being an athlete.

My parents didn’t want me to work with horses – “there’s no money in it”. So I got it into my head to become an actress, not that there is money in that either. After a bunch of work as an extra and even a fire-eater, I landed a job involving jousting, which led me right back to horses.

I decided to study at Hartpury College, which has been the springboard for everything I have achieved since. I got a job with them on graduating, which gave me a grounding in major event management, teaching, marketing, leadership, international relations, facility management… the list goes on.