As an equestrian, what is the ultimate romance you can imagine? In the afterglow of the sunset, a pair of lovers, you hold me, I lead the horse, walking through the endless green fields, hillsides, through the dark green forests, canyons, inadvertently looking at each other, but full of love. This is the most beautiful thing in the world.
Engaged in the London investment banking finance industry for seven years but chose to leave, once a Cambridge University doctoral student, now a wanderer on horseback, her life has many labels, she is our "Equestrian" magazine 2022 China Equestrian Miles • Ride to See Xinjiang Road, found one of the interviewees, the founder of "Riding a Horse to See the World Horseback Travel" - Wild Yatou.
Casual, dashing, wild
The wild man once said in his own article, "Calling a wild or a bandit is just a silent challenge to this gray reality." In the eyes of others, her life is indeed "wild" enough. Leaving the cancer research major of the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom, turning around and entering the top investment bank, he is in the rising period of his career, with a large income, but he chose to return to China to start a horseback ride to see the world on horseback. "The name of riding a horse to see the world was casual at that time, that is, if you want to ride a horse through the scenery of the world, then it is called riding a horse to see the world." 」 The wild man said. Casual, dashing and wild are synonymous with her.
Sitting on a turquoise lawn, the morning light shining on the dewdrops on the leaves, listening to the cows, sheep and horses chewing grass, behind a pale yellow pointed camping tent, in the midst of such nature, the wild girl and her husband Zhang Dasheng were interviewed by the editorial team of Equestrian magazine.
"I met her because of a business matter." Zhang Dasheng said that zhang Dasheng, who used to be a person who was devoted to his career. As the founder of the 37 Degrees Equestrian Club, he was busy finding coaches, buying horses, developing new club branches, etc., but after meeting the Wild Guy, this all changed. "At that time, I found her only because I wanted to find a suitable place for the club's students to ride wild, and finally chose Xinjiang, and after being introduced, I met her for the first time." Zhang Dasheng said. From then on, the two fully fitted gears began to rotate in the direction of fate.
"On the day of the meeting, we didn't talk about any business cooperation, from astronomical geography to quantum mechanics, from philosophy to religion, from social structure to life ideals." The wild man laughed. "At that time, I didn't think that this meeting would change my future so much." In the increasing interaction between Ye Yatou and Zhang Dasheng, they felt the fit of each other's hearts.
"Because of love, he is willing to become a person like me." The wild girl said, tilting her head to look at Zhang Dasheng, her eyes and the corners of her mouth were full of smiles.
Romance and difficulty do not conflict
Since then, the two have begun their life on horseback. Life on horseback seems to be free, you can sleep until ten o'clock in the morning every day, feed horses, chop firewood, ride horses, watch the forests, grasslands, streams, canyons, sunrises, sunsets, rays of light, rainbows along the horseback, but life is not only the romance in front of you, the dilemma is inevitable for everyone.
The first and second left Zhang Dasheng and Wild Yatou, the second from the right are the editors-in-chief of Equestrian magazine
In the process of preparing the horseback travel route, it takes about a month to search. The right route not only needs to be scenic, but also to meet the needs of undeveloped and comfortable. Often, sometimes, after a few days of running, I regret to give up the route that I have painstakingly found. "There was a route before and the view was stunning. However, because the camp had no water source, it could only rely on digging earth pits to store water, and the use of water was muddy, so it had to be abandoned. The wild man spoke with regret.
In addition, there are many uncontrollable external factors. "Just like the camp we are in now, when we first chose the site here, the Kazakh neighbors were very unwelcome, they thought you were fighting with them for resources and land. The way they expressed their displeasure was to sit in the middle of our camp with their families and mouths, asking us to leave. The wild man said. Even finding village cadres and county governments is of no use, and neighbors are still going their own way. "But now we have a particularly good relationship with our neighbors. Every summer, whenever we arrived, the neighbors would warmly hug us and welcome us. Because my team and I know that there is a better future only if everyone develops together. ”
The Equestrian magazine team, together with Ye Yatou and Zhang Dasheng, are in a yurt at a neighbor's house in the camp
The team chose to rent the native horses of the local herders, which is not only safer and more adaptable, but also allows the herders to develop together. The team teaches the herders how to tune the horses to make them more suitable for visitors. "Teach them how to train horses on horseback, and they can follow our methods to create their own horseback riding routes." It is better to teach people to fish than to teach people to fish. While letting everyone around them develop, the team of wild girls has also made their own team recognized and loved.
The soul of every route is man
"People who do horseback travel are all affectionate, and we will not forget our original intention, our love for nature, local culture and horses." The wild man said. "I like the character of the local Kazakh herders, for whom the pain of life is like a passing cloud, they can giggle and forget something. Unfair treatment or difficulties, as long as they can still ride horses, race horses, and pick up winter and sing, then these are not difficult for them. "I like the grandfathers of the Kazakh nation." Zhang Dasheng said. "This kind of grandfather, not to blindly show their masculinity, of course, they also have a tender and emotional side, which is carried in the bones." But in horse-related sports, such as horse racing, sheep hunting, every time I see it, I am excited, men should be like this. ”
Two compatible souls share common preferences. Both Ye Yatou and Zhang Dasheng liked a horse called "Zhi Douyun". "This horse is not very good-looking, and its physical strength is not good. In the eyes of Kazakh herders, he was not a good horse at all. But I like his liveliness and fluidity, and I like the silky suppleness he rides. I feel that he is in tune with our hearts. Zhang Dasheng said.
In addition to horses, both of them also love music, wild girls like tambourines, and Zhang Dasheng likes guitar. The two rode on horseback and walked through the endless grasslands and mysterious forests of Xinjiang, listening to songs along the way. Zhang Dasheng likes ethnic minority folk songs, and one of the favorite songs played by the wild girls is "The Last Mohicans". "This song expresses in my heart, for bravery, freedom, for the pursuit of beauty, for not giving up on life."
The same is true of the wild men who do things. The Horseback Riding Watch World team never pushes cycling route products, nor does it dig too deep into consumer psychology to do IP. This is not the purpose of riding a horse to see world brands. Many people have told Ye Yatou what kind of market you can have if this route is developed in this way, but this is not what she wants. The core of the Horse Riding to See the World Route is not the development, not the gradual upgrading of tents and equipment, but people.
The team leader should love horses, know where the scenery is beautiful, and design every route with a soul. The route to see the world on horseback is beautiful and full of highlights. When it is found that the beauty and highlights of a route are insufficient, the team will not continue to use this route because of the previous efforts or commercial operations. "We chose not to make it up. It's like life, when the good is gone, all we have to do is turn around decisively and leave. The wild man said.
The philosophy of the wild man
The wild man has his own philosophy of life. She said that only if you climb to the top of the mountain will you have the right to choose the way down the mountain. You are at the bottom of the mountain you have not seen the top of the mountain, you will never be reconciled, your heart is restless, you do not know what you want, because you do not know every road, what is the difference between it. We have to go through a struggle process of climbing to a high place, after seeing enough things, slowly look for what we want, what we want.
After that, you'll be especially calm, calm, enjoy everything, and know what you need and what you don't need. Young people must fight. The seemingly lying flat state is similar to the lying flat state after the struggle, but in fact, it is completely different. "I think so too." Zhang Dasheng said. "I used to be ambitious and my goals were too clear. Give yourself a plan every year, how much money you want to make, and plunge yourself into anxiety and depression. It was the wild man who changed me. Now I think that as long as money can buy it, it is not a luxury. I even started to enjoy riding on my horse, being blown by rain, wind and frost, and being scratched by thorns across my skin. It's a change in cognition. When cognition is reached, it will be happy and it will be simple. ”
As the setting sun sets, the stars twinkle over the treetops of a coniferous forest. The campfire in the camp reflects the starry sky jumping, the laughter of children, the voice of adults, the chewing of horses, accompanied by the aroma of local milk tea, white wine and grilled meat. In the tent under the starry sky, the lights are shining. People fall asleep with the utmost relaxation and pleasure, looking forward to being awakened tomorrow by the cries of horses, cows and sheep.
The team of "Equestrian" magazine took a group photo with Ye Yatou and Zhang Dasheng in front of the world camp on horseback
Text/Door Jingyu
Photo: He Yihong, Zhang Dasheng