Mongolian Horse Myths
Mongolian Horse Myths and Misunderstandings
As more people are traveling to Mongolia and experience riding a Mongolian horse much is written about the “wild” Mongolian horses. Some who share blogs and other publications about their riding adventures in Mongolia also spread Mongolian horse myths. Unfortunately it often gives Mongolian horses a bad name, portraying them as particular “wild” and difficult to ride, while the opposite is true.
Mongolian Horse Myths – Domestic versus Wild
Not understanding the nomadic livestock herding practices of Mongolian herder families, the free roaming horses in the landscapes of Mongolia are frequently referred to as “wild” horses. But they are not “wild”. They belong to a herder or an owner who entrusts their horses to a herder to take care of them. Mongolian horses live a lifestyle natural to their species. Horse herds may be out grazing a greater distance away from a herder’s camp than small livestock. And unlike sheep and goat and cattle horses may not come home at night. However, the herder will keep an eye on the whereabouts of the herd and will bring them closer if they go too far.
Mongolian horses that look “wild” to uninformed travelers are managed with regard to breeding and their utility. The mares will be milked in the summer season, starting on a certain day in June, to make the fermented mares milk drink “Airag”. The foals will be tethered and get very much used to humans. Young children will ride young horses. So its all a very natural, organic process to start horses under saddle.
Mongolian horses – not Wild, just Free!
The natural upbringing of young horses and their way of getting used to riders makes Mongolian horses great trail horses. Their “wild” lifestyle, meaning spending their life in the natural environment, makes them calm actually. Typically they are mentally well balanced, happy horses. (It should not be a surprise. Spending time in nature is probably the most important thing for human well being too, both mental and physical – in my experience :). Their life with no confinement, roaming in the grasslands, sheltering in a forest from heat and storms, crossing rivers makes them very tough, skilled and experienced for travel in various kinds of terrain. And they are of incredible strength and endurance. All of which makes them excellent trail and trekking horses. Mongolian horses have characteristics of “wild” animals when it comes to toughness, instinct, endurance and strength. But they are not “wild” animals.
Yes, like all horses, Mongolian horses can buck. But the spectacular bucking scenes where a horseman shows off his skills in “breaking” a horse for riding, staying on and disappearing in the distance of the steppes on the back of a bucking, kicking horse are more often seen on YouTube than in real life.
An event like the “Mongol Derby” also tend to give Mongolian horses a bad name. The event and reporting on it highlights the endurance and speed of Mongolian horses. However, the horses made available to experienced riders in this endurance race are not necessarily horses routinely used as saddle horses; they are horses from local families herds along the route, and are meant to add to the challenge for the experienced participants in the derby. Riders of course like to point out how “wild” their horses were to underline their skill to complete the race. But the inevitable mishaps during this extreme event again portray the Mongolian horse as “wild” and untamed and challenging to ride.
Trail Horses with Stone Horse Expeditions
We do not ride most of our expedition horses from November to April. But they are not going “wild” in the winter time.Once we saddle up in spring time for the first day rides, they are not unruly like they have to be started again under saddle. Of course there are exceptions and there are great differences in character and disposition among Mongolian horses. Knowing your herd members well is important to choose saddle horses that match the ability and experience of riding guests.
Wild Horses of Mongolia – the Takhi
On the other hand, there are truly wild horses in Mongolia. They are called Takhi in Mongolian. Having been extinct probably since the late 1960ies, they were bred in captivity in several European zoos with much success. Specimens had survived in captivity as descendents of 28 Takhi foals captured and brought to Europe in1902. The Takhi is often referred to as Przewalski horse, and its scientific name is Equus przewalski. This naming is based on the Russian geographer Nikolai Przewalski who described the species he observed during his 19th century explorations.
Takhi have been re-introduced into the wild in Mongolia in three areas. The first re-introduction was in what is now Hustai Nuruu National Park. This park is known not only for its successful re-introduction of the Takhi. It is also habitat to large herd of elk, and to other wildlife species including wolf and marmot. Within the park boundaries there are also historic and prehistoric sites of deer stones, ancient burial sites and stone monuments spanning periods from the bronze age to the time of Turkic cultures. Hustai Nuruu National Park is managed by a non-government organization that emerged from the early research on Takhi and the ecology of the steppe ecosytem. The park is within easy reach of the capital city Ulaanbaatar, about 1.5 hours to the west. It offers great opportunities for wildlife sightings and photography.
Other re-introduction sites of Mongolian wild horses are in the remote desert site of Takhiin Tal (Takhi Steppe) in the southwest of the country and in Khomiin Tal in Western Mongolia. Equus prewalski are also being re-introduced into their natural habitats in China and Kazakhstan. Despite these conservation successes the Takhi is still defined as “Endangered” by the World Conservation Union (IUCN).
Mongolian Wild Horses Genetics and History
The Takhi is genetically different from modern domestic horses as it has 33 chromosome pairs instead of 32. Therefore, Takhi and modern domestic horses are believed to have had a common ancestor, rather than one being the ancestor of the other.
In recent years, the “wild” status of the Takhi has been questioned after archeologists studied remains of horses domesticated by the Botai Culture 5000 years ago which turned out to be closer related to Takhi than to the modern domesticated horses. This opens the possibility that Takhi are the feral descendants of the once domesticated horses of the Botai Culture (1) – maybe. They may also have shared a common ancient Takhi ancestor. And in any case, the academic discussion does not take away the magic of the wild Takhi, nor the success of the Takhi re-introduction efforts in Mongolia and elsewhere. Scientific debate on whether Przewalski horses have domesticated ancestors is ongoing. In a latest paper, William Taylor presents arguments against the theory (2).
Wilderness and Ancient Cultural Landscapes in Mongolia
There is a related misunderstanding when it comes to Mongolia’s grand landscapes. Visitors will often refer to the “wilderness” or “the wilds” of Mongolia, indicating that these landscapes are untouched by humans. However, except protected areas that have been set aside for the wildlife and true wilderness and biodiversity values, the landscapes of Mongolia have been managed for millennia by human populations. They represent the cradle of mobile pastoralism and nomadic civilization where gilded chariots were in use thousands of years ago as archeological excavations have revealed. Mongolia has magnificent parks and dedicated wilderness areas, but the great steppes are largely an area with a long and varied human history as evidenced by a wealth of historic sites and monuments that shaped the making of the Eurasian continent in its entirety.
Experience a Mongolian Trail Horse
If you’d like to experience firsthand the great skills and character of a Mongolian horse, come on a horse trek with us.
Our Mongolian trail horses are of different temperaments. We know them all well and can match you to a horse that fits your riding level.
Sources
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Przewalski%27s_horse,
2. Taylor, William T. (December 2024). “When Horse became Steed”. Scientific American. 331 (5): 24–30.
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