Horse-racing is an important part of Naadam. This sport is also centuries old, dating back to the Bronze Age. Horses are divided into five groups: 2,4 and 5 years old, over five years old and stallions. The riders are aged from 5 to 12. Mongolian children are excellent riders as both girls and boys ride from infancy. As the popular saying goes "The nomad is born in the saddle". Competitions are not held on special racetracks, but instead freely right across the steppe, where riders are confronted with various obstacles like rivers, ravines and hills. The distance varies according to the ages of horses, between 15 and 35 km. The winners do a full circuit of the stadium, each accompanied by a herald. The winning horse receives the honorary title "Forehead of Ten Thousand Race Horse" and the five runners-up are awarded with medals. Interestingly enough, the loser is also rewarded and honoured.
Horse-Racing in Mongolia
