Horse Riding

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The romantic fantasy of many travelers in Mongolia

is to gallop towards the sunset riding on a Mongolian horse.

Here's how you can make your dream come true.

Horse riding tours Nomadic families jointly with tour operators have developed horse trails in various regions of the country suitable for tourists. Horse riding tours from a few hours to 10-15 days are offered by several tour operators. Most hotels will be happy to organize horse riding tours for you. Tour operators (see the list) have all the needed contacts and experience to arrange a tour for you, Some specialize in horse riding tours like - horsetrails.mn/en/presentation.php www.stepperiders.mn anakranch.com/index.html   One can arrange for a tour in advance or simply show up in one of the ranches. July and August are the most busy months, so you are better off arranging in advance during the peak season. Cost The basic cost for renting a horse is around $10-$20 per day. You also pay for the guide about the same. The guides cost can be spread between all riders in the group. Riding tours arranged by tour operators cost more - but include transportation, food, translator, staying at Ger camps. Horse riding regions Huvsgol lake There are several routs around the lake and up into the mountains. Terelje The Terelje park is close to Ulaanbaatar. You can drive there and back, and enjoy a horse ride the same day. Terelje has several Ger camps, allowing a few days of riding between Ger camps. Kahrhorin The ancient capital of the Mongol empire is a good starting point for long horse treks. Olgii - Altai Mountains Olgii is in west Mongolia. The Altai mountains offer great horse treks. Best camel and horse riding locations in Mongolia View Horse Riding Mongolia in a larger map Buying a horse With limited time and limited budget It makes more sense to go on a guided horse ride. Next best bet would be to go with a local guide that will help you find a horse, negotiate prices and help with communications along the way. Adventurous travelers, willing to take the risk, with plenty of time, and endless patience prefer to buy a horse and try to sell it when they return. Buying a horse has its challenges. Where to buy, how much to pay, how do you define a good horse, what routes to take, how do you find water on the way, how to avoid horse theft, what do you do when your horse fails, how do you pack your belongings, how to sell at the end of your adventure. if you got to this point on this page - you must have an adventurous spirit, and you deserve serious answers. Where to buy - Out of Ulaanbaatar. But Ulaanbaatar (try the black market) is a good starting point for horse accessories, like a western saddle. The Mongolian saddle which is common in the country side is not comfortable for long distance riding. You will be better off buying a horse, at your horse trail starting point. The distances between regions are measured in thousands of miles, and it would not be easy to transport a horse cross country on dirt roads. You can approach nomadic families and ask about horses. In the more popular tourist regions you have a better chance of finding a nomadic family willing to sell a horse to a non local. Best starting points - Terelj which is fairly close to Ulaanbaatar, Kharkhorin Just a few hours drive west from Ulaanbaatar, riding along the khangai valley. Khatgal in the north, on the Khuvsgul lake shores with beautiful trails around the lake and into the mountains surrounding it. Olgii In the most western region of Mongolia, riding into the Altai mountains. Finding a good horse Naturally a nomadic family will not offer you the best horse. If they have them they need them. They will be happy to sell you those horses that are less suitable for their needs. You will have to accept that as a fact of life, unless you are willing to pay a fortune for a few days or weeks of riding. Be sure to test ride the horse before buying, and ask for guidance regarding taking care of any particular horse. After long and cold winters, the horses are not at their best. It takes a few months for them to gain back what they have lost during winters that last from November to April. How much to pay Travelers have reported buying a horse for about $100 - $200 a few years ago. It seems that a more reasonable price would be around $300 - $800, with higher asking price to begin negotiation. Avoiding theft The horse theft reports do not mention violent theft. There have been several reports of horses disappearing mysteriously at night or on a hazy day. In several cases the horses somehow returned to the owners ranch. Even Cope (mentioned below) the adventures and experienced traveller suffered twice from horse theft incidences. If you have a Mongolian Guide with you, chances are quite low that some one will dare to steel your horse. When you are hosted by a nomadic family no one will come close to your horse. It is when you are camping out alone, and weather conditions place you deep in your tent that your horse is vulnerable. Packing belongings If you plan on a long cross country ride you will actually need 2 horses. One to ride on and a second to carry your belongings. It is crucial to have the the equipment well balanced on both sides of the horse. Try out your packs on a pack horse before buying one. The great advantage of a pack horse is that it doubles as backup horse, in case your riding horse fails. Choosing a route Once you are out of Ulaanbaatar you can ride in any direction. The challenge is to make sure you know of water sources on the way. A horse has to drink, and it is impossible to carry sufficient water for the horse. Choosing routes along river beds makes sense, and where ever you see nomadic dwellings or herds you can be sure to find water. Be aware that distances between settlements can take a few days of riding. Whispering Mongolian to horses "Choo" - is the sound that makes a Mongolian horse start going. Mongolian horses are used to having the rider climb up to the saddle from the left side of the horse. The roots for that habit go back to Genghis Khan warriors, that held a sward in the right hand, leaving the left hand to hold, the saddle and rains, while climbing up. Selling your horse Best bet would be to find a fellow traveller at one of the more popular tourist locations. Nomadic families with herds might be interested to buy the horse, obviously for much less than what you paid for to begin with. You might just as well consider to donate the horse to a nomadic family at the end of your trek. When you come back from your adventure, you are invited to share your experiences. Mongolia horse rider stories . . Tim Cope on his epic horse ride 10,000Km journey from Mongolia to Europe in the footsteps of Genghis Khan's warriors ...More on Tim Cope's website The horse in Mongolian culture and history The horse has a significant role in Mongolian culture. A horse is in the center of the national Mongolian cote of arms. Genghis Khan horses. . . . .. . . The outstanding success of Genghis Khan is attributed to his army's professional and experienced horseman. The Mongolian horses, unlike the European, know how to uncover the grass that is covered by snow, enabling them to cross Asia and Europe under extreme weather conditions. Prezwalsky (Takhi) horse Mongolia is the homeland of the Prezwalski horse, the last wild horse in the world, that was almost extinct just a century ago. This horse named Takhi in Mongolian is the forefather of the domesticated horses we know today. A Russian general (from a Polish origin) , named Preawalski . . . . . was sent on an expedition to find the remains of those almost extinct horses. He managed to locate them and in his honor these horses bare his name. Today one can find them roaming freely in nature reserves such as the khustai reserve, west of Ulaanbaatar. Saving the horse Horse and Naadam festival. . . . . The horse plays a major role during the Naadam festival in July. Horse racing is one of the three sport activities taking place during the Nadam festival together with archery and wrestling.