Obviously, the pictured horse is not a “Merc”, I am sure that Mercedes is not its name, and there is no reason to believe that the rider’s other horse is a Porsche.
Still, I was greatly surprised to see a 3-star-branded steed.
When I took this photo we were only a few kilometres from Karakul Lake, in China’s northwestern corner, where several international borders are very much closer than is Beijing.
At 1.21 pm on 24 May 2024, I thought we were looking at one of a group of several nomadic/quasi-nomadic herders, and their horses.
However, I was puzzled by the apparent absence of sheep, goats or cattle…
Upon reaching Karakul Lake, I worked out was really going on.
This series’ next chapter contains the visual clue/probable explanation.