Winter Horse Festival

A winter horse festival in Mongolia usually means a day or two of horse events held in late winter, most often around February, in the countryside near Ulaanbaatar, especially in and around Gorkhi-Terelj National Park. You can expect horse races across the snow, horse catching with the traditional lasso pole, horsemanship displays and folk performances. These events are smaller and less fixed than Naadam: organisers, venues and dates change from year to year, so always check before planning a trip around one.

What the winter horse festival is

Unlike Naadam, there is no single national winter horse festival with fixed dates. Instead, several events are held in different years, some organised mainly for visitors by tour companies and local communities, others by horse trainers and herders for themselves. They are often timed close to Tsagaan Sar, the Lunar New Year, which falls between late January and early March. Horse races in late winter and early spring are a long-standing tradition in many parts of the country, and a winter horse festival brings that tradition within easy reach of the capital.

The Mongolian horse in winter

Mongolian horses are short, stocky and extremely hardy. They live outdoors all year, grow a thick winter coat and paw through snow to reach grass, surviving temperatures far below freezing. Mongolia has several million horses, more than its human population, and the horse is central to herding life and national identity. In winter, a horse's breath freezes into frost on its mane and whiskers, which makes for some of the most striking photographs you can take in Mongolia.

What you might see at a winter horse festival

• Races on snow: usually over shorter distances than summer Naadam races, with riders in winter deel and fur hats.
• Horse catching with the urga: riders use a long wooden pole with a rope loop to catch a chosen horse from a running herd.
• Horsemanship skills: taming young horses, saddling, and games such as picking objects off the ground at speed.
• Sleds and winter life: horse-drawn sleds, displays of winter herding gear and warm food such as buuz or meat cooked over a fire.
• Music and performances: folk songs, morin khuur and sometimes archery or wrestling demonstrations.

When and where winter horse events are held

Most winter horse events take place in February within one to two hours' drive of Ulaanbaatar, often in Terelj or elsewhere in Töv province. Because dates depend on the organisers, the timing of Tsagaan Sar and snow conditions, they vary every year, and in some years an event may not be held at all. Ask a Mongolian tour operator or your accommodation for that season's schedule, and consider combining the trip with Tsagaan Sar celebrations, dog sledding or a stay in a winter ger camp.

Practical tips for a winter horse festival

• February around Ulaanbaatar is very cold, with night temperatures often well below minus 20 °C. Wear thermal layers, a down jacket, insulated boots, mittens and a hat that covers your ears.
• Stand well back from the race course and never walk behind horses; they can kick.
• If you are offered a ride, remember that Mongolian horses are semi-wild. Mount from the left, follow the handler's instructions and keep your hands warm enough to hold the reins.
• Roads out of the city can be icy; travel with an experienced driver and allow extra time.
• A day in Terelj is also a welcome break from Ulaanbaatar's winter air pollution.