Mongolia’s Winter Horse Festival

Last updated 3 months ago by Jessica Brooks | Published: December 6, 2022

Mongolia’s Winter Horse Festival

The Mongol Kazakh eagle hunters of western Mongolia are often the face of Mongolian culture on social media. However, the horse herders and hunters of Mongolia’s eastern steppe, though less commonly featured, play a crucial role in preserving the nation’s cultural heritage. Their traditions and way of life are at the heart of Mongolia’s annual Талын Түмэн Адуу Winter Horse Festival.

The festival’s primary goal is to preserve the heritage of the herding culture, showcase the remarkable skills of the horse herders and riders, and support the livelihoods of local communities. Over two days, horse trainers, herders, and their magnificent horses come together, celebrating Khentii’s deep-rooted horse culture and its historical significance.

Responsible tourism plays a vital role in ensuring that destinations remain vibrant places to live and visit. While the pandemic temporarily reduced visitor numbers to Mongolia, autumn eagle festivals in western Mongolia (link) have since regained popularity, which has increased demand on local services. Although we do offer experiences at these eagle festivals, we actively support the Winter Horse Festival as a responsible alternative for several reasons.

The Winter Horse Festival takes place during the off-peak season in November, which helps distribute tourism impacts more evenly across the year. Additionally, it is held in a lesser-known area, reducing pressure on the more frequented festival sites such as in western Mongolia. This event also highlights a different aspect of Mongolian culture – specifically the skills and traditions of horse herding and horsemanship – providing visitors with a broader perspective on Mongolia’a cultural heritage.

In addition to horsemanship competitions, the festival offers a glimpse into the local culture, including the use of dogs for hunting. Unlike the well-known Tibetan mastiff-style bankhar dogs common across Mongolia, the dogs used in eastern Mongolia are lean and swift, resembling Greyhounds or Whippets. These dogs are adept hunters, used by herders to pursue game such as  gray wolves, corsac and red foxes, Siberian marmots, and Mongolian gazelles.

Hunting for both meat and fur plays a critical role in the herding lifestyle here, reducing the need for herders to cull livestock and enabling them to maintain or grow their herds. Larger herds increase food security for families and generate additional income through livestock sales and related products, supporting the resilience of local communities. This cultural practice not only showcases the adaptability of herding life but also highlights how hunting has been historically used for livestock management in Mongolia’s eastern regions.

Throughout our blog post, we have featured the photography of Batzaya Choijiljav of @Batzaya Photos Mongolia. If you’re interested in experiencing Mongolia’s Winter Horse Festival you can learn more here. Alternatively, take a look at Mongolia’s other festivals including its winter events.

Jess @ Eternal Landscapes