David O'Connor, President of the United States Equestrian Federation, who won an individual gold medal in the eventing competition at the 2000 Summer Games in Sydney, said the facilities are the best ever at an Olympics.

The organizers "have gone out of their way to make the horses comfortable and are looking out for the welfare of the horses," O'Connor said in an e-mail interview. "Having competed in many unusual situations, I believe these conditions are favorable for the horses, and the footing is first class."

Sha Tin sports four blocks of new, air-conditioned stables with 228 stalls for roughly 200 horses and a reserve stable for 25 more. Mark Pinkstone, an equestrian competition official, referred to them as "six-star stables" during a press conference in Beijing on July 16. Beas River has a temporary block of air-conditioned stables for 80 horses.

Sha Tin's stables, measuring 3.6 meters by 3.6 meters, are larger than standard size and were constructed with recycled bamboo. Workers have installed closed-circuit televisions in the barns and sensors on the main doors. The rubber flooring in the stables is made from recycled tires, reflecting Beijing's environmentally friendly goal of a hosting a "green Olympics."

"No effort has been spared to ensure the horses' comfort and safety," Pinkstone said at the press conference on Hong Kong's preparations for the Olympic equestrian events.

Competitions for the 42 national teams and 225 horses participating in the Olympic equestrian events have been scheduled in the mornings, evenings and at night when temperatures are more bearable. Tickets for all events at both venues, which can accommodate 18,000 spectators each at full capacity, are sold out.

After the Olympic and Paralympic Games, organizers will return the refurbished building to the Hong Kong Sports Institute and transport the footing and some of the fences to the city's nine riding schools. Penfold Park will continue to serve as an equine park for horse shows and competitions. The Jockey Club has plans to build a Hong Kong Olympic museum inside Sha Tin, Lee said.