Riders and horses ready for Ethnic Games

ORDOS, Inner Mongolia - One day to go before the Chinese Ethnic Games, riders and their best companions are preparing to show their best self in this quadrennial tournament.

Four teams from Xinjiang, Tibet, Inner Mongolia and Hubei will be featured at the 10th edition of the games.

According to a staff member in the horse training venue, 360 stables are available for 266 horses from four teams.

"We have more than 40 bathing facilities, which can give these horses a suitable temperature," he said.

Tibet is the first team to move into the training area on July 5 to adapt, as they have more time to reduce the impact of different environments for horses, while three other teams have been training here for more than one week.

The 17-year-old Ulzii from Inner Mongolia will have his Ethnic Games debut, along with his friend, "Dort".

"I love football, and my favorite team is Bundesliga's Dortmund. This is why I call it 'Dort'," Ulzii said.

Outside the stables is a basketball court, where several team staff from Xinjiang are displaying their shooting and passing skills.

"Once we have leisure time, we will play for a while to relax," one staff said.

Xinjiang has a father-son duo, with the father Jarl Maimaiti Barat Jean as coach and 16-year-old son Haysar Jarl Maimaiti being a racer for six years.

Haysar Jarl Maimaiti won his first prize at the age of 10.

"It inspired me to become a horse rider," Haysar Jarl Maimaiti said.

Haysar Jarl Maimaiti has two horses for this Ethnic Games: cyan-colored "Lin Chong", named after an ancient Chinese hero, and brown-colored "Xinjiang Princess".

"When I saw 'Lin Chong' for the first time, I felt he was so beautiful," Haysar Jarl Maimaiti said.

One day to go, Ulzii, Haysar Jarl Maimaiti, "Lin Chong" and "Princess" are all ready for action.