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Fewer horses in Inner Mongolia
http://www.sina.com.cn 2003/06/05 11:17  Shanghai Daily

  The number of horses, considered the "cradle of life" by Mongolian herdsmen, has been declining in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region for several years.There are currently fewer than 800,000 horses in the region, a 65 percent drop from 1975.

  Apart from those in tourist spots and parks, horses, as well as herdsmen, are seldom seen in the vast grasslands.

  "Horses are smart and loyal to their masters," said Tubu Daleng, a herdsman from Otog Front Banner. "But I must sell them because raising a horse costs as much as raising six heads of sheep."

  He explained that according to regulations, one horse is the equivalent to six heads of sheep both in terms of grassland usage and taxes.

  "Thus, the cost of raising horses is much higher," says Tubu, who had more than 20 horses in the early 1990s, but now has only one.

  In addition, a growing number of herdsmen are using motorcycles or jeeps instead of horses. Also, fences are everywhere on the grassland, which makes horseriding difficult, said Sedi, from Uxin Banner.

  "The sharp decrease in the use of horses is the result of the reform of the market economy and the improved means of production in livestock raising," said Gao Xuefeng, an official with the regional animal husbandry department.

  "The mechanization of agriculture and transportation has resulted in reduced demand for horses," Gao said.

  Moreover, problems remain in the development of the horse market, which prevents horse raising from being a profitable business, added Gao.

  Historically, horses have been closely linked to the culture of the Mongolian nationality, and the Mongolians have been regarded as "people on horseback," according to Cao Namu, a herdsman in Otog Front Banner.

  "But today few people raise horses and few young Mongolians can ride a horse," said Cao.




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