As communities across Asia prepare to welcome the Lunar New Year on February 17, 2026, a new documentary illuminates one of China's most enduring cultural partnerships – the profound connection between grassland herders and their horses.
Hoofbeats of History
In the vast expanses of Inner Mongolia's Hulunbuir Grassland, 31-year-old horse trainer Manlai continues a lineage stretching back generations. His partner – a record-holding yellow mare nearing the end of her third decade – embodies the living heritage of China's equestrian traditions.
More Than Companionship
"Horses are the spirits of the grassland," Manlai explains in The Horse Whisperers, a film capturing his daily rituals of care and communication. The documentary reveals how:
Training methods blend physical discipline with intuitive understanding
Ancient knowledge transfers to young apprentices through demonstration
Mutual trust enables extraordinary feats of coordination
New Year, Eternal Values
As families gather for reunion dinners this week, Manlai's story resonates with the Lunar New Year's themes of continuity and intergenerational bonds. The film's release during Spring Festival celebrations highlights how traditional Chinese values of harmony between humanity and nature persist in modern times.
