Mongolian horse racing is exceptional as it deeply reflects the nomadic culture and the Mongolian sturdy steeds in nature. The origin of the Mongol horse races starts thousands of years ago when the Mongol nomadic tribes competed with each other once in a while to see whose horses are the best. Hence, the nomads have perfected their techniques of horse racing and have passed the tacit knowledge from father to son over the centuries, and the beautiful tradition still lives on.
The Mongol style of horse training and racing commences with breeding as the fundament, which is nearly the half of the work, and legend says that some renowned horse trainers even used wild horse stallions to perfect their own special horse breed in the olden days. Afterwards, trainers select their race horses carefully, based on the horse physical features (and of course, the origin!), and the Mongol trainers divide horses into several subgroups such as wolf-horse, moose-horse etc. Then each of the subgroups requires a different type of training. Nowadays, some trainers are mixing the pure Mongol breed with English, Arab and other breeds, and the Federation of Mongolian Horse Racing Sport and Trainers decided to organise separate races for pure Mongol breeds and the mixed breeds.
Race horses are trained from colt age, and racing distance varies for different age groups (depends on the season too). Horse racing venue is the open steppes that Mongolia is famous for, and race horses first get registered then go to the starting line (which is some 10-25km depending on the horse ages) and finally starts from there to the finishing line – so in fact, the racing distance is doubled. Mongolian horses might look small in size but they have amazing stamina and are greatly strong, therefore, good for long distance rides. And the Mongolian horse jockeys are young boys and girls often aged between 6-12 years old, and today it’s causing controversy due to child right issues.
The Federation of Mongolian Horse Racing Sport and Trainers is organising the annual regional spring horse races “Dunjingarav 2015” on 21-22 February, during the Lunar New Year holiday. The horse races will feature both Mongolian breed and mixed breed horses during the 2 day event at the steppes of Khui Doloon Khudag (35km from Ulaanbaatar to the west. Take the main road to Karakorum/western provinces. It’s the same place where the Naadam Festival horse races take place). It’s an event not to be missed as one can experience the Mongolian horse culture in depth and take a little break in the steppes (free of charge).
PROGRAM OF DUNJINGARAV 2015
Day 1. Saturday, 21 February.
09.00-10.00 Mixed breeds racing (adults) commences to the starting line
10.00-10.30 Mixed breed adult horse racing (arrives at the finishing line)
Day 2, Sunday, 22 February.
08.00-09.00 Pure breed stallion racing starts to the starting line
09.00-09.30 Pure breed stallions racing (arrives at the finishing line)
10.00-11.00 Opening ceremony of the Dunjingarav 2015 with traditional musical performances
11.00-12.00 Pure breed adult horses racing commences to the starting line)
12.00-12.30 Pure breed adult horses racing (arrives at the finishing line
13.00-14.00 Traditional folklore concert
14.00-15.00 Pure breed 5-year old horses racing starts to the starting line
15.00-15.30 Pure breed 5-y.o horses racing (arrives at the finishing line)
16.00-17.00 Awarding ceremonies of Dunjingarav 2015. The program ends.
For more information please contact the organisers at 976-11-367963.
Prepared by Zola, Managing partner of Selena Travel for GoGo Travel. © All rights reserved 2015.
Mongolian horse racing is exceptional as it deeply reflects the nomadic culture and the Mongolian sturdy steeds in nature. The origin of the Mongol horse races starts thousands of years ago when the Mongol nomadic tribes competed with each other once in a while to see whose horses are the best. Hence, the nomads have perfected their techniques of horse racing and have passed the tacit knowledge from father to son over the centuries, and the beautiful tradition still lives on.
The Mongol style of horse training and racing commences with breeding as the fundament, which is nearly the half of the work, and legend says that some renowned horse trainers even used wild horse stallions to perfect their own special horse breed in the olden days. Afterwards, trainers select their race horses carefully, based on the horse physical features (and of course, the origin!), and the Mongol trainers divide horses into several subgroups such as wolf-horse, moose-horse etc. Then each of the subgroups requires a different type of training. Nowadays, some trainers are mixing the pure Mongol breed with English, Arab and other breeds, and the Federation of Mongolian Horse Racing Sport and Trainers decided to organise separate races for pure Mongol breeds and the mixed breeds.
Race horses are trained from colt age, and racing distance varies for different age groups (depends on the season too). Horse racing venue is the open steppes that Mongolia is famous for, and race horses first get registered then go to the starting line (which is some 10-25km depending on the horse ages) and finally starts from there to the finishing line – so in fact, the racing distance is doubled. Mongolian horses might look small in size but they have amazing stamina and are greatly strong, therefore, good for long distance rides. And the Mongolian horse jockeys are young boys and girls often aged between 6-12 years old, and today it’s causing controversy due to child right issues.
The Federation of Mongolian Horse Racing Sport and Trainers is organising the annual regional spring horse races “Dunjingarav 2015” on 21-22 February, during the Lunar New Year holiday. The horse races will feature both Mongolian breed and mixed breed horses during the 2 day event at the steppes of Khui Doloon Khudag (35km from Ulaanbaatar to the west. Take the main road to Karakorum/western provinces. It’s the same place where the Naadam Festival horse races take place). It’s an event not to be missed as one can experience the Mongolian horse culture in depth and take a little break in the steppes (free of charge).
PROGRAM OF DUNJINGARAV 2015
Day 1. Saturday, 21 February.
09.00-10.00 Mixed breeds racing (adults) commences to the starting line
10.00-10.30 Mixed breed adult horse racing (arrives at the finishing line)
Day 2, Sunday, 22 February.
08.00-09.00 Pure breed stallion racing starts to the starting line
09.00-09.30 Pure breed stallions racing (arrives at the finishing line)
10.00-11.00 Opening ceremony of the Dunjingarav 2015 with traditional musical performances
11.00-12.00 Pure breed adult horses racing commences to the starting line)
12.00-12.30 Pure breed adult horses racing (arrives at the finishing line
13.00-14.00 Traditional folklore concert
14.00-15.00 Pure breed 5-year old horses racing starts to the starting line
15.00-15.30 Pure breed 5-y.o horses racing (arrives at the finishing line)
16.00-17.00 Awarding ceremonies of Dunjingarav 2015. The program ends.
For more information please contact the organisers at 976-11-367963.
Prepared by Zola, Managing partner of Selena Travel for GoGo Travel. © All rights reserved 2015.