“In fact, the prince on a white horse is actually a bit of a wimp.” At the White Horse’s Home leisure farm in Xianxi, Changhua, the owner Lin Jinxing blurted out this line out of the blue, so I looked at him, then at his wife beside him, trying to figure out what had gotten him so worked up.
Lin Jinxing said: “It’s true, you know? In nature, truly white horses are rare—unless they’re crossbred or albino. What we call ‘white horses’ are usually gray horses that have slowly turned white as they age, just like how old people start getting gray hair.”
“These older horses run slower on the battlefield, so generals would ride white horses to look impressive, but in reality, they were hiding safely at the back.” After showing me the gradually whitening roots on a gray horse’s mane to prove his point, Lin Jinxing emphasized once again: “That’s exactly what a prince on a white horse is like.”
■ Horse Riding Club Transforms into Tourism Business
Indeed, the British journal “Nature Genetics” once published similar research, so the boss does have a point—though I couldn’t help but chuckle to myself: “Then why name your farm White Horse’s Home?”
Lin Jinxing used to be a pharmaceutical inspector. In his 30s, he switched careers to raise ducks. In 1988 (Republic of China Year 77), due to the pollution from duck farming and Taiwan’s economic boom, he gave up ducks for horses and started a horse riding club. He led equestrian enthusiasts galloping along the coast and also ran a stable caring for horses owned by wealthy clients. Back then, before turning 40, he was as dashing as the “prince on a white horse.”
■ White Horse’s Home – Mini Horses Loved by Kids
At his peak, Lin Jinxing owned 18 horses. But as many wealthy clients moved to mainland China, both equestrian activities and the stable business lost their market. Though he briefly tried transforming the place into a leisure winery, he eventually returned to raising horses—this time, mini horses.
Lin Jinxing said: “Equestrian activities take a huge toll on horses, but mini horses used for kids to ride slowly, walk around, and play with don’t get worn out much. They still bring joy to children and help them learn about horses.”
From prince on a white horse to mini horse grandpa, the White Horse’s Home now mainly focuses on family-friendly leisure tourism. Aside from breeding and selling 2–3 mini foals each year to supplement income, the farm also allows kids to pet, feed, and ride horses by the sea, plus offers DIY salted egg making experiences. It’s located about a 20-minute drive from Lukang.