RANCH LOOP · 8 STOPS
The WINDRIDE Loop
Out of the ranch gate and through eight landscapes in an afternoon: open range, valley trail, golden woods, white stupa, village, lake, stream and the wolfsbane ridge.
- Duration
- About 3 hours
- Terrain
- Grassland · valley · woods · lakeshore · stream · ridge
- Level
- Some experience helps (the Valley Ride)
This is the trail we ride most, and the one we’d never give up.
It leaves through the ranch gate, loops around the grasslands, village and lake of Xiaozhongdian, and comes home along a ridge. It isn’t long, but it packs eight landscapes into one afternoon. Every photo below was taken by us, on this trail.
Stop 01 / 08 · OPEN RANGE
Open Range
Beyond the gate the grassland opens up. A track like a pair of wheel ruts runs toward the pass — the right place to let the horses walk out and find their rhythm. Most people’s first trot happens here.
Stop 02 / 08 · VALLEY TRAIL
Valley Trail
The trail narrows and climbs along the valley side, past scrub and bare trees. The horse picks its own footing; your job is to trust it.
Stop 03 / 08 · GOLDEN GROVE
Golden Grove
In autumn the woods turn gold. Hooves on fallen leaves, sunlight slipping between the trunks — the whole line goes quiet without anyone asking.
Stop 04 / 08 · WHITE STUPA
White Stupa
At the edge of the woods stands a white stupa, blazing against the blue. We slow down here. As is the custom on the Tibetan plateau, pass it clockwise, keeping the stupa on your right.
Stop 05 / 08 · VILLAGE & LAKE
Village & Lake
At the bottom of the slope the village and the lake appear together. Sometimes a dog runs alongside for a while, as if seeing us off.
Stop 06 / 08 · INTO THE LAKE
Into the Lake
The most photographed spot on the loop. On a clear day we ride into the shallows, and the sky and clouds are reflected beneath the hooves.
Stop 07 / 08 · THE STREAM
The Stream
We cross the stream into the light. Water, hooves, spray — many riders say this is where they first feel at one with the horse.
Stop 08 / 08 · WOLFSBANE RIDGE
Wolfsbane Ridge
The last stretch climbs onto the ridge above the gorge, where clumps of wolfsbane turn red in autumn. Look back from the top and the whole loop is below you. Then we ride home into the sunset.
Back to the Ranch
The loop takes about three hours; the pace is set by the weather, the season and the slowest rider in the group. To ride it, book the Valley Ride — or just tell us.