Equestrian barrel racing held in Xiliinhot

The 7th China Equestrian Barrel Racing kicked off in Xiliinhot (Xilinhot), Inner Mongolia autonomous region on Aug 5, mixing modern horse racing competitions with traditional ethnic horsemanship.

In addition to horse racing, festival organizers arranged interactive horse-related activities and cultural celebrations to entice more people to participate in the event.

Horses have been a long-standing icon for nomadic herdsmen on the prairies of Inner Mongolia since the ancient times. The region has pioneered the promotion of its ethnic customs and also boosted the local economy through equestrian events.

Sponsored by China Equestrian Federation, the event attracted hundreds of jockeys to compete in the fierce races.