Economic factors

As the economy of Inner Mongolia has developed, the role of horses has waned. They are no longer tools for transportation. They've been replaced by cars, motorcycles and trucks.

Raising horses has become increasingly commercial - either for sale or for racing. The average price of a horse is around 7,000 yuan ($992), and the market has been growing rapidly.

Herdsmen often sell their horses to a dealer, and the dealer resells them to meat markets or horse clubs.

Many horse-related products, such as mare's milk, horse oil and horse hair from the mane, have gained popularity in recent years, which in turn provides business opportunities.

Bayangol never sells horses as meat. "My horses have brought me many honors through racing," he said. "I would never treat them that way. Unfortunately, I can only keep a certain number of them on the meadows I own. The land must be protected from overgrazing, so I have to sell sometimes."

On average, Bayangol sells about 30 horses a year, which can bring him income of about 90,000 yuan.

"Compared with 10 years ago, the price of horses is much higher as a result of growing interest from the public in horse culture and riding. But I still feel pretty down every time I sell one," he said.

Meanwhile, conditions on the land have improved. Sarnaa, Bayangol's wife of 20 years, noted how the government stepped in to provide a steady supply of water on the barren plains. "In the past, our meadows received only occasional rain. There was no reliable water source," she said. "Last year, the central government helped us drill a 120-meter-deep well, which has brought precious water to the land."