Uygur teenager horse rider looks to future

For 16-year-old Uygur rider Haysar Jarl Maimaiti, racing with two horses seperately at the ongoing Chinese Ethnic Games may have different results, but are equally valuable experience.

With old partner "Xinjiang Princess", Haysar Jarl Maimaiti won the prize in 5,000m ethnic horse race, while with new companion "Lin Chong", he finished only 13th place in the 2,000m event.

Haysar Jarl Maimaiti took positives out of his first cooperation with "Lin Chong", who is named after an ancient Chinese hero. "We still have chances in the future," he said.

Future is the word which Haysar Jarl Maimaiti has drawn inspiration from since he started horse riding six years ago.

Jarl Maimaiti Barat Jean, who is Haysar Jarl Maimaiti's father and coach, said that he had wanted his son to go to college but when he discovered his son's affection for horse racing, he gave up his idea.

"Maybe he inherited that from me," said Jarl Maimaiti Barat Jean.

At the age of 10, Haysar Jarl Maimaiti joined the club which his father worked for as a coach and soon showed his talent for horse race.

"The first year when he joined in the club, he got the top place in a local horse race, and the prize for champion was a car," Jarl Maimaiti Barat Jean recalled.

Haysar Jarl Maimaiti was hailed as "King of Teenager Horse Race" after he won titles in different tournaments in Xinjiang.

But success never comes by easily.

"As horse is subject to hot condition, my son has to get up around 5 o'clock in the morning," Jarl Maimaiti Barat Jean said.

"My wife think that I am cruel, but you have to keep up when you have decided to do it. That's what my son has done."

Jarl Maimaiti Barat Jean has high expectations on his son.

"He is top rider at our club. I hope that under my strict guidance, he and his horse can run faster in the future," said Jarl Maimaiti Barat Jean. Endi