Nowhere else on Earth has horsemanship been elevated to such an art as on the steppes of Mongolia. Nomadic Mongolians have historically been exposed to horse riding from the time they were born. The traditional saying that “A Mongol without a horse is like a bird without the wings” still resonates in modern times. The fearsome Genghis Khan is widely quoted as having said, “It is easy to conquer the world from the back of a horse,” which is exactly what he and an army of Mongol warriors did, as they rode halfway around the globe astride their homeland’s steeds in the pursuit of empire.
A painting showing the riding skills of Mongolian warriors at their best: standing in his stirrups to shoot even while retreating
The Mongolian horse is a special breed: diminutive but sturdy and exceptionally tough. They are revered in Mongolian culture, and have changed very little over the centuries, remaining essentially free from human interference. These pony-sized steeds are perfectly adapted to the steppes, surviving in temperatures that go to minus 40 Celsius in winter and to plus 30 in summer. They are renowned for their ability to go the distance, clocking up to 40 km a day.
Photo: Michael Yamashita
This strong, sure and sure-footed native breed made the armies of Genghis Khan almost invincible as they conquered most of the known world, from China and Central Asia to the borders of Poland in the 13th century. Photo: BatzayaPhotography
The sense of community living and teamwork is very strong among Mongolian nomad families. Photo: Worldnomads
Learning to ride horses in Mongolia begins as early as 4 years old. By age 5, they are expected to be able to participate horse racing. Photo: Batzaya Photography
A rider demonstrates his prowess to perform acrobatic feats. Photo: Worldnomads
A horseman practicing archery. Archery is traditionally practiced from a standing position rather than mounted. Genghis Khan used these archery contests to hone warriors when he founded the Mongol Empire in 1206. Photo: BatzayaPhotography
A woman archer on horseback. Many of the warriors in Genghis Khan’s army were women who were skillful archers. Photo: BatzayaPhotography
Mongolian steed are much stronger than they look. Photo: BatzayaPhotography
The horses can survive in the long harsh winters when temperature drops to when – 40 Celsius degrees. Photo: BatzayaPhotography
