High on the Xizang plateau, at more than 3,500 meters above sea level, a new generation of riders is rewriting the rules of equestrian sport. The Xizang equestrian team, guided by centuries-old saddle traditions, is galloping straight towards national stardom.
Born in the Saddle
Many team members, like 18-year-old Zhang Li, first climbed into a saddle before they could walk. "Horses are part of our family," Zhang says, her eyes bright with determination. Raised among the rolling grasslands, these young athletes inherit a deep bond with their horses—and a will to win.
High-Altitude Advantage
Training at high altitudes isn't just a challenge; it's an edge. The thin air of Xizang boosts lung capacity and builds endurance. Coach Wang Ming, a former national champion, has turned this natural advantage into a rigorous program. Riders log six-hour sessions, blending strength work with technical drills to master jumps and dressage.
Chasing Gold
The results speak for themselves. Over the past year, the Xizang team has claimed multiple national championships in show jumping and eventing categories. Their secret? A blend of tradition and innovation: handcrafted saddles meet data-driven training metrics, and ancestral horse-breeding practices pair with modern veterinary care.
CGTN reporter Chen Yilin, who visited the team's training grounds, witnessed firsthand the symbiosis between rider and steed. "You feel the history in every hoofbeat," she notes, "and the potential in every stride." Their story is more than sport—it's a leap of faith that honors heritage while charging into the future.
As the Xizang equestrian team prepares for the next national event, these riders are not just chasing medals. They're carrying forward a cultural legacy, inspiring young athletes from every corner of the globe to mount their own leap of faith.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
