Saturday 1 March 2014

Wild horses couldn't drag them away: Amazing pictures of the huge herds which charge across the plains of western China

For the Chinese, horses are such an important part of their culture that they have their own Zodiac sign. These pictures of majestic herds of thousands galloping through the grasslands and snowy plains below the Tian Shan mountain range go some way to explaining why.
Horse breeding is well developed in the China's central Asian Xinjiang province, which borders Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, a legacy of the nomadic tribes which have historically lived there. The semi-wild horses of Xinjiang are used by local people as a source of meat and milk, which is often made into a fermented drink, as well as mounts and beasts of burden once properly trained.
This year is the Chinese year of the horse, and people born this year are said to be a bit like the animals: animated, active and energetic – they love being in a crowd.
A horse gambols through the snow on plains near the Tian Shan mountain range in Xinjiang, western China
A horse gambols through the snow on plains near the Tian Shan mountain range in Xinjiang, western China
Local people herd the semi-wild horses, which they use for meat and milk as well as mounts and beasts of burden
Local people herd the semi-wild horses, which they use for meat and milk as well as mounts and beasts of burden
Galloping steeds kick up the snow as they stampede through the white-out conditions in the chilly central Asian region
Galloping steeds kick up the snow as they stampede through the white-out conditions in the chilly central Asian region
The Tian Shan mountain range rises in the background behind a herd of horses as they charge across the snow
The Tian Shan mountain range rises in the background behind a herd of horses as they charge across the snow
A herdsman looks over his horses from a hill overlooking a vast plain in Xinjiang, which borders Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan
A herdsman looks over his horses from a hill overlooking a vast plain in Xinjiang, which borders Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan
Horse breeding is well developed in the China's central Asian Xinjiang province, a legacy of the nomadic tribes which have historically lived there
Horse breeding is well developed in the China's central Asian Xinjiang province, a legacy of the nomadic tribes which have historically lived there
A shot of a horse herd taken in the summer shows them fording a shallow stream running through the area
A shot of a horse herd taken in the summer shows them fording a shallow stream running through the area
For the Chinese, horses are such an important part of their culture that they have their own Zodiac sign
For the Chinese, horses are such an important part of their culture that they have their own Zodiac sign
This year is the Chinese year of the horse, and people born now are said to be a bit like the animals: animated, active and energetic
This year is the Chinese year of the horse, and people born now are said to be a bit like the animals: animated, active and energetic
The Chinese first began domesticating horses in the east, but had to turn west to import bigger, stronger breeds
The Chinese first began domesticating horses in the east, but had to turn west to import bigger, stronger breeds
Hundreds of horses are seen herded together as the central Asian sun shines on their manes and coats
Hundreds of horses are seen herded together as the central Asian sun shines on their manes and coats


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2570985/Wild-horses-drag-away-Amazing-pictures-huge-herds-charge-plains-western-China.html#ixzz2ukXeXcyC
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