Mongolian horse: A unique creature for nomads
Mounted on their remarkable horses, Chinggis Khaan and his army of skilled cavalry were able to conquer much of Asia and Eastern Europe, establishing the largest empire in the world.
For many centuries horse has been the main part of the nomad’s life but still maintain their wild nature.
The horses In Mongolia live in herds, led by a stallion who guides the horses to water, shelter, and safety. The horses are hardy and adapted to living out in temperatures that can reach -45c, and are able to forage for food in any conditions. Mongolian horses are small – growing to between 13hh and 14hh – but stocky and strong and great for endurance riding. Although n Mongolian horse is smaller than western and Arabian breeds it has strong muscles naturally intelligent and loyal to the owner.
The Mongolian horse is one of the most ancient horse breeds in the world. According to the archeological funding, Mongolians had domesticated and used horses for their lives since 2000 B.C.
Mongolian horse breeds have descended from the Takhi, well known as the Przewalski horse. They have similar body
TRAVELING BY HORSE AMONG ENDLESS STEPPE
Horse Breed: Native Mongolian horses.
Height of horses: Approx. 12 – 14hh
Weight limit: 90kg / 198lbs
Required level of ride: Beginner-Advanced
Highly recommended destinations for horseback riding in Mongolia:
- Orkhon river valley, central Mongolia
- Northern Mongolia, route to Taiga reindeer people
- Khan Khentii Mountains in Eastern Mongolia
- Gorkhi-Terelj national park, nearby Ulaanbaatar
- Western Mongolia, Altai Mountains
Best time to ride: June – October
Traveling by horse in Mongolia is not just an adventure or holiday, but it is the opportunity to explore the wilderness, great steppes and immerse yourself with a culture of nomads that you wanted to learn about. During horseback riding expeditions – learning new skills, pursuing your interests, and of course, just relaxing and enjoying the ride and company.
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Benefits of horseback riding: Doctors approve horseback riding offers the following health benefits.
Core Strength: Horseback riding is an isometric exercise, which means it uses specific muscles to stay in certain positions, in this case, keeping balanced on the horse. As a result, postural strength becomes very important in horseback riding.
Balance and Coordination: Staying balanced becomes more challenging the faster and more quickly the horse moves. Cantering or galloping and jumping, for example, are much more difficult than a simple jog or trot. The rider must develop coordination skills to move the body with the horse in order to help the horse stay balanced.
Muscle Tone and Flexibility: Along with the core muscles, the inner thighs and pelvic muscles get the biggest workout as a rider positions himself or herself. This exercise helps with good overall muscle tone and flexibility.
Cardiovascular Exercise: Depending on the type of riding and the speed and agility of the horse, horseback riding can require more effort, energy, and cardiovascular capacity.
Mental exercise: There are many mental benefits to horseback riding. There’s a confidence that comes from learning how to handle and interact with this huge animal. You really learn about yourself as you experience time on a horse.
Additionally, horseback riding to be a very relaxing and calming experience. Horseback riding grounds me. It takes me away from any other worries or issues because, for the time being, the only focus is on riding and staying on the horse. While horseback riding In Mongolia is a great exercise, same time true benefit you may get now is the connection with the wild nature, horses, and contributing lives of local nomads.
What to expect from horse riding journeys?
- Meet authentic nomads and visit their ger
- Contribute their lives (rent horses and yaks)
- Ride a yak or pack your luggage
- Capture breathtaking photos of nature or nomads
- Test airag (Kumis) or authentic nomadic cuisine
- Play Mongolian traditional games
- Challenge yourself and boost your confidence
