Riding trails of gold

Plans to promote and boost the equine sector and related industries involve output of more than 9 billion yuan ($1.3 billion) this year alone, with improvements to breeding infrastructure, more support for tourism and larger investments in equestrian activities in the works.

Serik Khabukhn, deputy head of the local administrative area leading the development of its equestrian industry, said the home advantages are unmatched.

"Horses are raised according to their environment. Altay's mountains are steep, with skyscraping rock outcrops and gushing rivers. These challenging features nurture horses that display excellent endurance and versatility to navigate the geography effortlessly. They are vastly different from the imported Arabian and Thoroughbred types," he said.

"Our local breeds are extremely docile, gentle and easy to train. They are very suitable for children and young riders to learn on. According to our road map to develop the local horse industry, we will focus on breeding and training our mounts for equestrian tourism and education to develop the Kanas 'Golden Horse Trail' together with the 'Altay brand' that prides itself on being a major part of the country's culture and heritage."