Jockeys, mostly teenagers, do their best at horse race.

Ghi-i-ng-ho-o!
Victorious Call
Mongolian nomads can not be imagined without their horses. A good riding horse is more than simply an animal. It is a friend and assistant, the pride and joy of its owner.

Many songs and legends were composed praising horses, and not a single festival goes without them, especially Naadam Festival.

That is how ancient horses looked like some 25,000 years ago. A sturdy and enduring, Przhewalski horse is a distant cousin of domesticated ones.

Saving Wild Horses
A unique experiment on re-introducing back into nature the Przhewalski or Wild horse is taking place in the Hustain Mountain Range, some 100 km the capital city of Ulaanbaatar.

The wild horses that once roamed in thousands across vast open steppe stretches of Central Asia, were extinguished by early 20th century and now only about 1,200 of them are left in zoos. Learn about their return to native land.

Nomadic customs may seem strange, but each word or gesture has its own meaning.

Understanding Mongols
Mongols are known to be one of the ancient nations with very distinctive national character, the core of which survived through the centuries of turbulent history, and remaining neither Asian nor European. Follow the trail to understand the main traits of Mongolian nomads.
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A summer long, airag drinking session of the past.

Airag, a Health Beverage
Airag or fermented mare’s milk is a beverage of choice for Mongols. Tasting slightly acidic, it is both a mild drink, a food and medicine, helping herders to stay healthy and strong.

Though drinking too much, one can easily become drunken, especially given that airag is usually served in huge, up to five liters bowls. Beware and tread slowly.

Shagai, a nomadic postal man.

Urtuu or Medieval Post
For seven centuries, a horse courier service network existed in Mongolia allowing to deliver letters and major news within days. Established by the decree of Chinggis Khaan, the service operated round the clock with more than 5,000 stations and 100,000 horses standing ready.

“A smallest delay could result in fines, and each station had to stamp own seal as well as the date and time of passage,” recalls Shagai Sandagiin, a retired postal courier who lives now in Zavkhan province.

A nomadic couple enjoying the pleasures of horse and fantasy riding.

Horseback Sex
Modern Mongols are hardly able of the their ancestors’ escapades. But they are neither shy about sex and sexuality, accepting it as natural part of life.

Living in close tune with the Nature and tending animals, they learn about mating and birthing from the very childhood just by observing the way of cattle. And there are some secret sides to horse riding, Mongols know about well.

Morin khuur or a horse headed violin, the true musical instrument of Mongolian nomads.

A Horse Headed Violin
As no other musical instrument, morin khuur or Horse headed violin expresses the very soul of Mongolian nomads. According to a legend, it was first made by a poor herder to play a song about his fast horse called Noble Black.

After the death of his beloved horse, the owner put its skull on an ancient graveyard, and then made a musical instrument on top of which he carved the head of the proud horse.

He wrapped a new musical instrument with the horse’s skin, and put on strings made of horsetail hairs. Then he composed a special song in honor of his fast horse, which become very popular.

"I was too young... and made a mistake."

My Native Land
Old Baldan was slowly riding back home. He has just been to the top of the nearby Steppe Mountain, lighting incenses, making offerings and worshipping the nature.

A carpet of steppe was now slowly rolling in front of him. The horizon drowned in a haze as if being lullabied. Baldan’s old, sleepy eyed horse was slowly protruding on her old and stiff legs.

Suddenly, his horse lifted ears and softly whined as if warning about something coming.