Cavalry guards stretch of rugged border area

When Mareyam Ahmat attended her first equestrian show in her home county of Baicheng in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region in August last year, she was captivated by its blend of strength and grace.

It only took a month to pass for the 20-year-old, who graduated with a degree in computer science in 2023, to make the bold decision to try out for the horse-riding border control cavalry that hosted the event.

The calvary unit, the nation's only horse-riding cavalry, is located in Baicheng's Laohutai township and patrols a stretch of the border in northwestern Xinjiang with neighboring Kazakhstan. Horses are necessary for these patrols due to the rugged and extreme terrain that has an average altitude of 2,000 meters.

"I was hesitant at first because I was concerned about my physical fitness, but I made up my mind after learning that the cavalry also helps local herders during their seasonal migrations in the summer and winter. It's a job that is not only cool, but also quite meaningful," she said.

Established in 1956 to reinforce border patrols, the calvary today takes on a variety of responsibilities, including providing emergency aid, spreading awareness about laws and government policies, and escorting herders during their seasonal migrations.

Comprising 120 members, with Mareyam one of 15 women among them, the cavalry use local Laohutai horses, a breed shorter in height and more robust than the famed and elegant Yili horses from the region.

Newcomers like Mareyam, who is a member of the Uygur ethnic group, are required to train in 10 disciplines of horsemanship, ranging from the basics like reining horses to walk, canter and trot, to more advanced techniques such as carrying an injured person on horseback or leaping over high obstacles.

For Mareyam, one of the most challenging disciplines is swordplay on horseback.

"It involves wielding a sword forcefully while riding a galloping horse," she said.

"Riding a horse already demands a ton of strength and good balance, and I need to further build my muscles and sharpen my mindset to master the skill."

Another challenge is standing while riding to observe and monitor the situation in the distance.

"At first, I could hardly straighten my legs and felt my core, arms and legs shaking violently when attempting the move," she said.