A decades-old public riding school in Hong Kong has reopened after three years of renovation with a new indoor sand arena, expanded stables and longer operating schedules.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club Pok Fu Lam Public Riding School opened its doors on Thursday after completing a HK$375 million (US$48.2 million) redevelopment plan that began in 2022, the first since it was built in 1978.

Its campus features new and upgraded facilities, including additional stable capacity of 38 horse stalls from the previous 33, an indoor arena and equine simulators, which allow for more flexible class scheduling, according to the school.

“There are so many people in Hong Kong who would love to ride, but there is only so much capacity in Hong Kong because of space restrictions,” Amanda Bond, the club’s head of equestrian affairs, said.

She added that the space of 4,715 square metres (50,750 sq ft) was “tiny” for a riding school and had not been built to modern standards. Thus, the renovation aimed to “maximise the space” and accommodate as many horses and ponies as possible without sacrificing animal welfare.

Bond said the upgraded school provided enhanced accessibility to support riders with disabilities, including barrier-free access for wheelchair users, tactile strips on the floor for the visually impaired and hearing induction loops for people with hearing aids.

With more horses available, the operating schedule has been expanded to seven days per week, up from six, offering an expected weekly capacity of 65 hours, which was a 14 per cent increase over what was previously possible.