The Hungarians were scared. The invading Mongolians had already taken over half the country, leaving destruction and death in their wake. The remaining citizens knew their defenses were not enough. They would be destroyed. Any moment they would attack, and the Hungarians didn’t know if they should fight, or try to flee. The heavy spring rains had turned the roads into a muddy mess, they were likely to just get stuck.
But as they braced, preparing for what seemed like certain death, nothing happened. The army didn’t come. As the days turned into weeks, it looked like they weren’t going to come. Scouts went out to look. The army had completely left.
Why had the Mongolian army, the strongest in the world at that time, conquerors of the most expansive region of land the world had ever seen, just given up? They were undefeatable. If they wanted land, they simply took it, wiping out anyone who stood in their path. Their agility in battle, on the backs of their small horses, was unrivaled. They could hang off the side of their horses to avoid arrows, yet return fire under the horse’s neck. They used sophisticated tactics such as tricking the enemy about which way they were coming from, swiftly changing direction at the last moment to swerve around, overtaking armies from the sides.
Yet they just abandoned Hungary, a country that they had already worked their way halfway through. Why?
The Mongolians had long been experts at fighting on horseback. They had been doing it for hundreds of years already. But they had just been fighting each other until one man, the son of a chief of a tribe, brought the fragmented tribes together.
His own life had been incredibly difficult. As a child, his family was abandoned by the tribe when his father was killed. But his ruthlessness began at a young age, as he killed his half brother to become head of the family. As he grew into manhood, he used his charisma to bring people and made alliances with tribe leaders. His influence grew, and he eventually united all of the tribes, creating the Mongol Empire. As he seized greatness, he took on a new name, one that would be well known for the next thousand years: Genghis Khan.
He believed he was destined for world domination, so he set out for it. His armies were ruthless, destroying everything in their paths. And their horses were a huge part of their success.
The unassuming animals were small, coarse and hardy. They were pony sized, 12-14 hands high. They were used to cold, harsh winters, and foraging for their own food. Once tamed, they were friendly and reliable companions, who learned their jobs well. And one of those jobs was carrying full sized men into battle.
When the Mongolian army moved, they brought a huge herd of horses with them, with each warrior having 5 or more horses to rotate through. The horses weren’t just battle mounts, they were also the source of food – lactating mares were preferred into order to drink their milk. But in a pinch, they would also drain blood from the neck and drink it. Their hair was also used for clothing, repairs, bowstrings, and rope. They were a symbol of wealth, and a source of spiritual comfort. When the warrior died, their mount would be killed, too, so they would have a ride in the afterlife.
The horses were highly valued. Which is why, in 1242, the Mongolian army abandoned their attack on Hungary. The heavy rains had flooded the pastures, quickly turning them into a muddy mess with no grass to eat. The army, knowing their strength came from their horses, left for greener pastures.
The Hardy Horse
The horses are still small, coarse, and rugged. With the exception of no longer working as warhorses, little has changed for them since the days of Genghis Khan.
The Mongolians have long used a hands off approach to horse care. The horses live in large herds on the steppe, with no fences stopping them. They are free to roam for miles to find what they need. There is a shortage of trees to build shelters, so the horses stay out in harsh conditions. In the summers, they will stand in the river to cool off and avoid bugs. The horses search for their own food all winter. The dwindling forage leaves them thin and frail at the end of winter, unable to be ridden. When the spring grass comes in, they fatten back up.
There’s no farriers, but the constant movement of the horses trims the hooves naturally. There’s no vets, so owners rely on home remedies. There’s no trainers or books, instead all horse knowledge is passed on from parent to child. Children begin riding before they can walk, and are soon riding out with their parents.
Typical herds are comprised of mostly mares and geldings, with only 2 or 3 stallions. The geldings are the literal workhorses, helping the family with most of the tasks. Mares are primarily tasked with simply raising their foals, as long as they also provide milk for the family. Once fermented, the milk becomes Kumis, a specialty drink of Mongolia. Stallions may work as well, but they are primarily for building the herd.
Although the stallions are chosen by the families, they are still left up to their own to decide who and when to breed. This hands off approach has led to the largest genetic variation of any horse breed. This drives the natural selection that has built this incredibly hardy horse in such harsh conditions.
Other breeds of horses cannot handle the extreme conditions. Some breeders, seeking a faster racehorse, have brought in thoroughbreds and Arabians, but these horses do not survive on their own. They freeze in the cold, or they can’t forage enough food for themselves to survive the winter. But since horse racing is a big deal in Mongolia, wealthier breeders have built stables for them to live in, and crossbreeds are taking over the races.
Riding the Mongolian Horse
Families keep a select number of horses at their “gers,” the family tent homes. These horses are used to ride out and round up the rest of the herd.
The horses are trained, but not in the way you may be used to. When they are young, the children will play with them, getting them used to people. When they are about 2 years old, they get used to a saddle on their backs. When they are ready, someone mounts up, and the goal is just to stay on until the horse is used to it. Sometimes the rider is bucked off, but they get right back up to continue the process. Eventually the horse understands, and will accept a rider. At 3 years old, the horse may be used for regular work.
But these horses are still independent. The horses are taught their basic job of carrying a rider, and then they are left to make their own decisions. Micromanaging a Mongolian horse will result in a very unhappy horse.
The horses are usually decide which speed they want to move at, with a preference towards the canter. The stirrups of the saddle are high, much like a racing jockey, and the rider will spend much of the ride standing.
Although tourism is still developing in Mongolia, providing horse rides to tourists is lucrative. There’s several tour companies that arrange rides across the Mongolian Steppe, and there’s also rides like the Mongolian Derby, which brings in riders from all over the world.
Only 30% of modern Mongolians remain as nomads. The majority of the population have moved into the cities. But even with the changing lifestyle of the Mongolians, there are still 3 million horses in Mongolia, nearly equal the human population of 3.3 million.
Horses have long been the backbone of the Mongolian culture. Although modern life is changing Mongolia, there is still love for the horses that created their culture.
“A Mongol without a horse is like a bird without the wings.”
Want to Ride a mongolian Horse?
13 Days Across the Orkhon Valley, Mongolia – Riding and packing trip (carried by mules and support vehicles, showing you the beauty of Mongolia. Good for experienced riders, with lots of cantering!
13 Day Nomadic Life Experience and Horse Trekking to Tsaatan, Mongolia – True nomadic experience, riding point to point, and not just horses, but reindeer, too!
7 Day Sightseeing and Horse Riding Holiday in Central Mongolia’s Eight Lakes Area – Ride out in the the beautiful Eight Lakes Area of Mongolia.Â