Horseback riding in Suzhou

Traveling to China to get the chance to embark on a horseback riding tour may seem like a grand effort, but for horse lovers and other folks, who just enjoy watching the surrounding scenery from the back of a horse, Suzhou's riding tours offer a great alternative to traditional vacations.

The city of Suzhou, nicknamed China's Venice, is located about 40 km from Shanghai. The city, which is famous for its beautiful gardens, canals, and bridges, is a popular tourist destination among the native population as well as foreigners. But Suzhou is a lot more than just beautiful, old buildings. Tourists staying in the region for longer than a night or two can enjoy the local natural scenery on horseback riding tours offered by the Lakeville Country Club.

The Lakeville Country Club is located about one hour's drive from Suzhou. The moment you step through the old-fashioned gate leading to the farm, you feel like you're no longer in China. Instead, you feel like you've been whisked off to a cowboy ranch in the middle of nowhere. The complex is made up of a large, wooden main building, a stable, a barn and a paddock, which fill the otherwise relatively empty looking yard. Men and women dressed in cowboy outfits stroll here and there, some of them leading ponies on a tether. A car pulling a trailor circles around the premises, and each time it passes a cowboy who gaily lifts his hat in greeting, the small kids enjoying the ride in the back chuckle. About a dozen harnessed ponies stand tied to a thick pole.

Something for everone

The main building contains hotel rooms, a restaurant and a spa. (Image: Radio86) In addition to riding lessons and tours, Lakeville offers a large variety of other recreational activities such as go-karts, darts, archery, biking, a playgound for the kids as well as a grill for having your own barbeque. Although the ranch may appear quite empty at first glance, there is a whole lot of things to do. The main building has three different types of hotel rooms, (single, double and VIP), a Chinese restaurant, a gym, and a spa where you can enjoy the soothingly warm waters of artificial springs. According to club manager Dawei Zhong, the resort is especially popular among families during the holidays.

Better safe than sorry

Scary tales of riders having been thrown off the back of enraged horses are not uncommon in China. For this reason, safety is a top priority at Lakeville. A tourist embarking on a riding tour will not only be wearing a helmet, but also kneepads and a thick, protective vest, just in case something goes awry. If your riding skills need a little brushing up, you can hire a personal guide specialized in handling horses to take along on the trip. One of the most popular riding tours follows the broad paths along the shoreline of Lake Taihu. The surrounding nature is peaceful and silent, and offers miles of beautiful scenery such as the closeby hills and mountains. The participants are free to choose the length of their riding adventure.

How to get there

A train bound for Suzhou leaves from Shanghai at least once an hour. A one-way train ticket costs around 2 euros and the trip takes about 40-60 minutes. It is worth while to check that the tickets are for an express train, otherwise you might end up on a train that makes a stop at every station, and which takes about two hours to get to Suzhou.

A scene straight from a western movie. (Image: Radio86)In Suzhou, you can take a cab from the train station to Lakeville. If your travel group is made up of at least seven people, you can reserve free transportation from the station to Lakeville from the resort. Once you've reached your destination, the charge for an hour's riding tour is about 20 euros. An English speaking guide costs extra. It is recommended that you always negotiate before settling on the final price. A double room in Lakeville costs about 45 euros a night.

Horses in Chinese history

Although horses have played a significant role in China's past, they are not very commonplace today. The golden age of the horse was during the era of the Shang Dynasty (1600-1100 BCE) when they were widely used as a means of transportation and in military combats.

Throughout the centuries, the role of the horse diminished in the military and they became more popular as entertainment attractions. During the Han Dynasty, horses were used in different kinds of performances and in lavish ceremonies organized in honor of the emperor. By the time of the Tang Dynasty, horses played a big part in such festivities. It was during this time that polo and horseback hunting also gained popularity.

Horse shortage

A horse handler at the Lakeville Country Club. (Image: Radio86)China has been largely dependent on horses imported from other countries because its attempts to breed them domestically have failed for the most part. During the Tang Dynasty, laws which protected the horse, and subsequently improved breeding success, were introduced and for a while, the situation looked better. The laws stipulated that horses that were used in shows staged for royalty should be treated as royalty as well. Unfortunately, these rules did not become a permanent part of the Chinese legislation and they were soon forgotten. In the era of the Song Dynasty, a veritable shortage of horses was felt throughout China.

During the reign of the Ming Dynasty, ships became the main transportation method and horses were pushed to the side. However, this noble animal still continued to receive the care and attention that it merited in the service of the country's military, where it was revered as a precious member of the ranks. As the number of horses in the country dwindled, people were forced to turn to other methods of transportation.

Today, horses graze in fields across the vast territory of China, but it is still rare for a family raise horses for hobby purposes. According to a survey conducted some ten years ago, there were 11 million horses in China, which belonged to 26 different breeds.

Throughout history, the horse has had a pivotal role in Chinese mythology because it has been associated with the dragon which, according to legend, is capable of flying and carrying a person on its back. For ages, the Chinese have also equated the skill of flight with survival.

Address: Lakeville Country Club, Piaomiao Village, Xishan Island, Taihu Lake. Telephone: +86(0)512 6637 7050.