We were longing to hear “Giddiyap cowboy!” from Zhang Ke, but he’s too professional to live up to our Wild West expectations. You can check out Zhang’s stellar horsemanship at Equuleus (www.equriding.com)

6:20
I wake up to a song sung by my daughter Qi Qige recorded on my cellphone.

6:50
I say goodbye to my wife and leave the house with Qi Qige and Jerry, her Labrador, in tow. She also has a horse named Tom. 8:00 I arrive at Equuleus International Riding Club and start a day of difficult but rewarding work.

8:30

The stable manager briefs me on the morning’s work that has already been done. Every morning the stable staff feeds the horses and cleans the stables, basic work for any riding club. From the briefing, I learn about the condition of the horses and staff schedules. I regulate both my and my staff’s work schedules accordingly.

9:00

I walk the horses around the ring using a set of long reins. These horses had a good workout last night. Afterwards, I mount a horse to ride around the club for further inspections. Changing my method of motion feels great—it’s like walking with four legs!

10:00

I start working with young horses, choosing various exercises according to their training schedules. It’s exciting to teach them how to understand what I want them to do, and then see them do it. Some students are watching me train them. This is a great way for them to learn how to become equestrians.

11:00

Sometimes I teach young riders, but I mostly spend time overseeing other trainers as they teach. I want to build a teaching system and continually improve it by locating and solving problems efficiently.

12:00
I don’t usually eat lunch. I much prefer to watch the horses in the stable instead. Horses communicate with each other, and by watching them I can learn how to communicate with them too. These daily observations help me improve efficiency and safety at the club. This time is even more important in winter, when I can train young colts and fillies without other riders around.

13:00

It’s time for one of our weekly lessons in stable management for our trainers, grooms and members. Our senior trainers and I cover a variety of things in these lessons, from teaching adults and kids the safe way to approach a horse, to how to properly groom and care for them, including how to trim their hooves and the importance of changing their iron horseshoes every month. We also teach people to give their horses showers in the summer to cool them down when they get too hot. There’s a lot to teach, and a lot to learn.

15:00

This time of the afternoon is flexible, and I can genrally choose the type of work I want to do. I train professional riders, work on improving club relations, and check the club for any safety concerns.

16:00

Qi Qige’s school day is over, and I go to pick her up and bring her to the club. I teach her professional equestrian theory, and we practice by playing games with the horses. She thinks it’s a real treat to work with horses, and wants to be an equestrian when she grows up. As night falls, I drive my daughter home, listening to her singing.