To ride a horse and look for a horse means to look for something while it is around you. It is also a metaphor for finding a better job while doing a certain job.
Source
Song Dynasty Shi Daoyuan's "Jingde Chuan Leng Lu" Volume 28: "Reciting sutras without seeing any meaning is really like riding a donkey to look for the donkey."
Vernacular: "It makes no sense to recite scriptures without seeing them. It's like riding a donkey and looking for a donkey again."
Usage
Linked expression, used as predicate, attributive, and clause . Used for people.
Extended information
Synonyms
Riding a donkey to look for a donkey:
It is a metaphor for finding something that is right here but looking for it everywhere.
Source
Hong Yingming of the Ming Dynasty, "Cai Gen Tan·Seeking the Buddha within the heart, but the Dharma outside the heart": "As soon as I get on the raft, I think about leaving the raft. This is a Taoist who has nothing to do, just like riding a donkey. If you look for a donkey again, you will never become a Zen master."
Vernacular: "You are a Taoist who wants to abandon the raft as soon as you arrive. If you ride a donkey and look for a donkey again, you will never become a Zen master." p>
Searching for horses in a sentence:
1. He was working as a casual worker while looking for a job. He was looking for a horse by riding a horse, but he was not idle.
2. While working, Xiao Li learned the knowledge of the new job, rode horses and made full use of his time.
3. He took the door key and looked for the key to open the door. He was really looking for a horse on horseback.
4. Why is it easier to find a horse by riding a donkey instead of looking for a horse by riding a horse? It may be easier to find a horse by riding a camel and you can see further.
5. In this way, I was invited to be the contracted singer of the Sakura Song and Dance Troupe last spring.
6. I originally wanted to work steadily for two years and then change jobs when a better position came up. Unexpectedly, the general manager’s new female secretary, Guan Xueer, fell in love with his handsome young man.
7. I think it will be very difficult for the company to develop rapidly if we continue to do things like this. I think we should change our thinking.