Horse riding in Mongolia

Horse riding in Mongolia is the truly best way to experience nomadic Mongolia. Nowhere in the world are horses more integral to people’s daily lives than in Mongolia. Horses play a large role in the daily life of the Mongols. Horses are used for transportation, herding, hunting, and entertainment (horse racing).

If you want to ride a horse, it is available anywhere in Mongolia since Mongolia boasts more than 3 million horses, an equine population that outnumbers the country’s human population. The nearest horse-riding destination from Ulaanbaatar is Terelj National park, Hustai National Park, and Bogd Khan National Park. 

The Best Places to Go Horse Trekking in Mongolia
If you want to ride through astonishing landscapes where abundant with Mongolian horses, the following destinations are suggested: 
Terelj National Park
Orkhon valley & waterfall
Naiman Lake
Khuvsgul lake & Taiga
Eastern Mongolia

Best time to ride a horse in Mongolia?
Summer from June to September is the ideal season for horse trekking in Mongolia when they are strong enough to pack and load heavy loads. 

      How to ride Mongolian Horse

The character and taming ways of Mongolian horses are totally different from horses of other countries and the following things should be kept in special attention.

1. Stay away from a horse’s back (hind legs). Make noise, cough, or say something when approaching a horse from the horse’s back, if not, horses may kickback. 
2. Do not pat horses, especially, the horse’s back. 
3. Coming close to the horse, mounting, dismounting and other actions should be completed only from the left side of the horse.
4. Grab onto the front grip of the saddle (i.e. a pommel on a Western saddle) before putting the front of your left foot in the stirrup. Put the weight on your left leg as much as you can, swing up, and take your foot over into the right stirrup.
5. Do not put your feet too deep into the stirrups. You don’t have to post when the horse is jogging. (This will prevent your foot from being caught in case of a falling.)
6. Do not roll the rein around your hand or legs while riding. (it will also prevent from being dragged in case of falling.)
7. The word choo! is the one thing every tourist learns, it means ‘get going’, or ‘faster! The horse will start walking if stationary, from there you keep saying it when you want to ‘shift up a gear’ to jog/ lope/ gallop.
8. On sunny days, horses get distracted by mosquitos and move their heads wildly which could hit you. 
9. Stay away from trash, bright-colored pieces on the ground or pieces stuck on the trees or bushes. The horse might get frightened from hiding rabbits, marmots, or some shiny items and could suddenly run wildly. Reign should be folded in hands in short at all times.
10. Do not change your clothes, take off clothes or let things hang off the horse while riding. Also, do not wear clothes that make sounds. There is a risk that loose ends start flapping in the wind, clothing items fall off the horse- all of which might startle a horse, yours, or of the fellow riders.
11. Keep in mind that the horse could slide on rainy, snowy, and wet days. 
12. Have your guide hold the horse still if you’re not confident
13. Do not use an umbrella during horse riding. Do not open an umbrella close to a horse.
14. Do not drink alcohol or use drugs while riding or working around horses.

Interesting facts about Mongolian horse

1. Mongolians do not name their horses. Horses are named after their color. 
2. Mongolia has a lot of songs and poems dedicated to horses. Plus, songs about horses tend to become hit. 
3. Mongolian nomad’s children learn to ride horses when they reach 3 years old.