Mongolia is known for being a land of horses and the finest horsemen on earth. The country has more than 3 million domestic horses across the vast steppes, and several hundred Takhi, wild horses in wilderness. The Mongols take pride in their amazing horse culture that they have been honing for milleniums, and even there’s this saying “a Mongol learns to ride a horse before he starts walking” among the nomads. There are countless number of legends (including the two white horses of Chinggis Khan), stories, songs and poems about the remarkable Mongolian horses (you perhaps already heard about Mongolian horses being one of the main reasons of the successful Mongol raids in Eurasia back in the 13th century, but did you know that Mongolian horses took part in WWII? They traveled as far as Berlin with the Soviet soldiers!) too.
The wonderful “Steppe Horses Winter Festival” is to be held for its’ third time in a couple of weeks, just before the Mongolian Lunar New Year. This year, the festival is taking place in Altanbulag soum of Tuv province, which locates very close to Ulaanbaatar, and thus, provides a brilliant opportunity to witness the event. You may have seen great photos of Mongolian horsemen in snow from the previous festivals, and this beautiful stallion picture taken during the festival (courtesy of Mongolian photographer Batzaya Ch) was named among the best animal photos of 2016. You will see everything by your own eyes!
Elle Gelding Horse, Photo courtesy of Mongolian photographer Batzaya Ch.
Dates of 2017 Steppe Horses Winter festival: 17-19 February.
Location: Altanbulag soum, Tuv Province.
Brief program of the festival.
Friday, 17 February.
17:00 Meet at the Sukhbaatar Square and take the shuttle bus to Altanbulag village
19:00 Dinner
20:00 Musical performance by the people of Altanbulag, followed by public dance
Saturday, 18 February.
08:00 Breakfast
10:00 Transfer to the festival venue
10:30 Competition among horsemen: lassoing and catching horses with uurga (Mongolian horse catching poles)
11:30 Competition among horsemen: breaking in horses (taming)
12:00 Lunch break (hot food and drinks will be sold by the locals)
14:00 Opening ceremony of the Steppe Horses winter festival (parade of horsemen; contest of beautifully dressed rider couples etc)
15:00 Performance of horsemen: Khutulguu
15:30 “Horse catching with lassoes and uurga” continues
16:00 Stallions are prepared for photography opportunities
18:00 Dinner
20:00 “Horse themed” song contest among the locals, followed by public dance
Sunday, 19 February.
09:00 Breakfast
10:00 Horse racing competition (short range)
11:00 Parade of hunters with hunter dogs
11:30 Competition of hunter dogs with prey
13:00 Lunch
14:00 Depart to Ulaanbaatar by shuttle bus service. End of the event.
Mongolia is known for being a land of horses and the finest horsemen on earth. The country has more than 3 million domestic horses across the vast steppes, and several hundred Takhi, wild horses in wilderness. The Mongols take pride in their amazing horse culture that they have been honing for milleniums, and even there’s this saying “a Mongol learns to ride a horse before he starts walking” among the nomads. There are countless number of legends (including the two white horses of Chinggis Khan), stories, songs and poems about the remarkable Mongolian horses (you perhaps already heard about Mongolian horses being one of the main reasons of the successful Mongol raids in Eurasia back in the 13th century, but did you know that Mongolian horses took part in WWII? They traveled as far as Berlin with the Soviet soldiers!) too.
The wonderful “Steppe Horses Winter Festival” is to be held for its’ third time in a couple of weeks, just before the Mongolian Lunar New Year. This year, the festival is taking place in Altanbulag soum of Tuv province, which locates very close to Ulaanbaatar, and thus, provides a brilliant opportunity to witness the event. You may have seen great photos of Mongolian horsemen in snow from the previous festivals, and this beautiful stallion picture taken during the festival (courtesy of Mongolian photographer Batzaya Ch) was named among the best animal photos of 2016. You will see everything by your own eyes!
Elle Gelding Horse, Photo courtesy of Mongolian photographer Batzaya Ch.
Dates of 2017 Steppe Horses Winter festival: 17-19 February.
Location: Altanbulag soum, Tuv Province.
Brief program of the festival.
Friday, 17 February.
17:00 Meet at the Sukhbaatar Square and take the shuttle bus to Altanbulag village
19:00 Dinner
20:00 Musical performance by the people of Altanbulag, followed by public dance
Saturday, 18 February.
08:00 Breakfast
10:00 Transfer to the festival venue
10:30 Competition among horsemen: lassoing and catching horses with uurga (Mongolian horse catching poles)
11:30 Competition among horsemen: breaking in horses (taming)
12:00 Lunch break (hot food and drinks will be sold by the locals)
14:00 Opening ceremony of the Steppe Horses winter festival (parade of horsemen; contest of beautifully dressed rider couples etc)
15:00 Performance of horsemen: Khutulguu
15:30 “Horse catching with lassoes and uurga” continues
16:00 Stallions are prepared for photography opportunities
18:00 Dinner
20:00 “Horse themed” song contest among the locals, followed by public dance
Sunday, 19 February.
09:00 Breakfast
10:00 Horse racing competition (short range)
11:00 Parade of hunters with hunter dogs
11:30 Competition of hunter dogs with prey
13:00 Lunch
14:00 Depart to Ulaanbaatar by shuttle bus service. End of the event.
Prepared exclusively for GoGo Travel by Zola