Proof of the ever-growing reach of equestrian sports in China was obvious to me last week when I found myself in Lijiang, the country’s most overdone tourist trap (though once a quaint town populated by the Naxi ethnic group). While escaping Lijiang I was lucky to find a stable run by a worldly local and went to check it out. Pretty much in centre of Sunhe, a town adjacent to Lijiang – and similar tourist draw – the club keeps five locally bred horses trucked from Beijing. Small but well-run the stable seemed quiet in the way of members or riders but I was assured it gets busy on weekends. Lijiang and Sunhe streets are busy with locals walking tourists around on their ponies – many of them unfortunately unshod.
Check out Anson’s blog here – there’s a phone number there too.
