China Equestrians: Let's ride a horse to work

China's equestrian enthusiasts have launched a campaign of riding horses to work to promote a more environmentally friendly means of transportation for the nation's commuters.

About 1,500 people in more than a dozen cities will ride horses to work this week to mark World Environment Day on Sunday.

Participants from the cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Chongqing, Chengdu, Shenyang, Xi'an, Hangzhou and Wenzhou will ride along planned routes to show that riding horses can be an attractive, low-emission form of transportation.

“We are promoting an environmentally friendly concept that doesn't consume gasoline or create exhaust, as cars do,” Wu Gangfang, founder of the equestrian website horse.org.cn, said on Friday. The campaign was started by the website, which is popular with horse enthusiasts.

Compared to being stuck in traffic jams during rush hour, riding a horse is a much more convenient mode of transportation, Wu said. “It is also an effective way to get some exercise and stay healthy,” he said.

Although there are no laws in China forbidding people from riding horses on public roads, there are some regulations that forbid the use of vehicles drawn by animals.