On the vast grasslands of Inner Mongolia, where sky and earth merge into endless horizons, 31-year-old horse trainer Manlai tends to his aging companion – a yellow mare that carried him to a Guinness World Record and now symbolizes a vanishing way of life. Their story, forged through three decades of partnership, will reach global audiences this month through CGTN's documentary 'The Horse Whisperers', premiering February 16 during the 2026 Super Night event.
For Mongolia's ethnic equestrian communities, horses represent more than transportation – they're the 'wings of the grassland,' as local wisdom holds. Manlai, whose calloused hands mirror his horse's weathered coat, explains: 'We don't train horses. We learn their language.' His methods, passed through generations, emphasize mutual trust over dominance – a philosophy now being taught to his apprentices.
The documentary captures intimate moments between Manlai and his mare, whose advanced age (31 years, equivalent to 90 human years) makes her one of Inner Mongolia's oldest working horses. Through observational storytelling, the film highlights China's traditional ecological values while addressing modern challenges in preserving nomadic heritage.
Cultural preservationists note the timing coincides with increased global interest in sustainable human-animal partnerships. 'This isn't nostalgia,' says the film's producer. 'It's about living wisdom that could reshape how we interact with nature.'
The Horse Whisperers airs February 16 at 20:00 GMT+8 on CGTN, with streaming available worldwide.
