by Sun Zhe, Hu Huhu
URUMQI, March 2 (Xinhua) -- For Xirzat Nurmu, a horse trainer in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, horses are more than animals. They are brothers. Though they cannot speak, he believes they understand his moods, and when he feels low, they lean against him quietly as if offering comfort.
Across Xinjiang's vast grasslands and high plateaus, horses have long been steadfast companions. For centuries, they have carried herders through harsh winters and over steep mountain passes, following the seasons from snowbound highlands to summer pastures.
Today, as China modernizes, that partnership is evolving. Riders are entering new arenas such as equestrian sports, tourism and cultural performances, reshaping their own destinies.
DREAM ON HORSEBACK
At 31, Xirzat leads a team of horses at an equestrian tourism company in Urumqi, the regional capital. During performances, he soars on a galloping Akhal-Teke horse, robes flying, drawing gasps and applause from the crowd.
Born in Zhaosu County, he grew up surrounded by grasslands. His family did not own horses at first, but at age seven he climbed onto a neighbor's horse and discovered what he calls a lifelong passion.
"I fell in love the first time, even forgetting to do my homework," he recalled. "I kept asking the neighbor to take me riding. Later, I just rode by myself."
After repeated pleas, his parents bought him a horse, which later had a foal. When the foal matured three years later, he finally rode his own mount. Xirzat competed in local prairie races, expecting to spend his life on the grasslands.
That changed in 2015 when a friend told Xirzat about equestrian performance opportunities in Urumqi. Against his parents' wishes, he boarded a long-distance bus and traveled for a full day and night to the city.
At first, the famous breeds, including Arabian and Akhal-Teke horses, felt different from the hardy prairie mounts he knew. He started from the bottom, grooming horses and hauling feed, learning standardized riding techniques through falls and repetition.
Over a decade, he became a professional trainer. In peak season, he earns more than 10,000 yuan (about 1,460 U.S. dollars) a month and mentors more than 20 young riders.
Thanks to China's growing enthusiasm for equestrian culture and sports, in recent years the company alone has hired more than 800 employees from Han, Kazakh, Kyrgyz and Uygur ethnic groups, expanding employment in horse-related industries.
Xirzat has since married in the city. His six-year-old daughter, Shakla, runs to the stables after kindergarten and climbs onto a horse. Her bright eyes recall her father's childhood, and she even joins him in performances.
"Riding brings you close to nature and strengthens both body and mind. People who ride are not afraid of hardship," he said. "Xinjiang's horse culture is growing stronger, and we have more opportunities than before."
RIDING BEYOND LIMITS
In Tashkurgan Tajik Autonomous County on the eastern Pamir Plateau, Gulisa Dihan is pushing the boundaries of long-standing traditions.
She grew up on the Pamir Plateau, where horse racing and sheep-catching are everyday pastimes valued for their emphasis on freedom, speed and courage.
Gulisa comes from a family of riders. Her grandfather, father and brothers all made names for themselves in local horse racing. Growing up watching them, she was drawn to the male-dominated sport. As her father aged, her elder brother became busy with work and her younger brother was still in school, she stepped forward to carry on the family legacy.
At university, Gulisa's athletic talent earned her a spot on the long-distance running team. Every holiday, she returned to her village at about 4,000 meters above sea level with a training schedule in hand, running the high-altitude trails.
Like horse racing itself, her choice drew skepticism. Older villagers often questioned her: "Why not take a car? Why waste time on something so useless?"
The doubts never slowed her. She competed in Xinjiang's student athletics championships and repeatedly won regional mid- and long-distance events.
"I've long been used to being misunderstood," the 24-year-old said. "Running tests personal endurance. Horse racing tests the bond between rider and horse. Both give me a sense of growth and the courage to face the unknown."
She rises before dawn, wraps herself against the cold and leads her horse, Black Pearl, out to warm up. Training often lasts until dusk, and she returns home beneath a sky full of stars. Wind or snow, she keeps going.
In early spring 2024, Gulisa became Tashkurgan's first female rider in a 5,000-meter horse race, drawing local attention. Competing alongside many male riders, she showed no nerves and finished sixth.
"Let's honor the county's first female rider!" the announcer shouted, prompting cheers from the crowd.
"I am truly a rider now," she said.
In Tashkurgan, home to 42,000 people, sports have become a common passion among the youth. Gulisa's courage has inspired more local girls to ride, and today dozens of female riders, including high school students, compete in a sport once reserved for men, leaving striking trails across the highlands.
"This sport requires courage, but we are not lacking it," she said. "Ride first, dare to think, dare to act, and then nothing is impossible."
LAND RESHAPED BY HORSES
In Xirzat's hometown of Zhaosu County, horses have also reshaped the destiny of the land.
Historically famed for the "heavenly horses" of the Ili River Valley near the Tianshan Mountains, Zhaosu still boasts abundant equine resources, with around 122,000 horses ranking it among China's top regions for equine numbers. Though no longer used for labor, horses are now at the heart of a modern industry.
Since 2021, the county has hosted over 420 horse racing events at various levels, with a growing, market-oriented system attracting riders from across China and abroad.
French equestrian Andre Coriou, 65, returned to Zhaosu last year to compete in an endurance race more than a decade after his first visit.
"Unlike major cities, the mountains, culture and terrain here are truly enchanting," said Coriou, who has practiced equestrian sports worldwide for over 30 years.
Officials say Zhaosu is developing a full industry chain covering breeding, competitions, veterinary care, trading and cultural tourism. In 2024, the horse industry's total output reached 1.423 billion yuan (about 205.6 million US dollars) .
For herders like Bayinkexik, the shift has been profound.
"In the past, winter was harsh and there was little income," he said. "We relied on selling some mare's milk in summer and livestock in autumn. In winter, there was almost nothing."
Now he leads a team in twice-daily performances with seven other herders. On the snow-covered plains, his shout pierces the cold as more than 100 horses thunder past for visitors' cameras.
Others in his village have opened homestays, guided horseback tours or sold traditional foods such as horse sausage and dairy products. In 2025, Zhaosu received 9.4 million tourist visits, a sharp year-on-year increase.
Bayinkexik plans to expand his herd this summer.
"For a long time, animal husbandry was our main business," he said. "We are still with the horses. But everything has changed." ■
