Young rural residents riding into hopeful future

Until the Sunshine Riding School began recruiting rural teenagers in 2015, equestrianism had never been heard of in Yihuang, an agricultural county in east China's Jiangxi province.

So far, most of the 90 students are working in or aspiring to find work in riding clubs in China's largest cities, such as Beijing, Shanghai and Hangzhou.

Huang Wanpeng, 19, decked out in a black riding suit and velvet helmet, whispers intently to a blood horse named Gold. Receiving the order, the horse begins pacing elegantly.