WINTER HORSE FESTIVAL
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Discovery of the Central Steppes and Bayan Gobi
Also known as the "Festival of 10,000 Horses" or the "Steppe Horse Festival," this event has been held annually since 2015. Local herders, along with others from neighboring provinces, gather for this festival, which features over 2,000 horses.
We invite you to experience this annual event through an immersive journey across the central steppes, the sands of Bayan Gobi, and the Siberian forests of the Khentii Mountains.
4o mini
The "Winter Horse Festival" generally takes place in the small village of Dundburd, in Khentii Province, Eastern Mongolia. Khentii Province is rich in heritage related to Chinggis Khan and the unification of Mongolian tribes.
It is primarily inhabited by the Buryats, one of Mongolia’s ethnic groups.
The Dundburd community itself is known as a center for traditional craftsmanship, particularly for Mongolian saddles and other equestrian gear.
The festival aims to preserve the heritage of equestrian culture, highlight the skills and dexterity of horse herders and riders in competition, and support the livelihoods of local communities. It is the equestrian culture of Khentii, along with its historical connections, that brings together horse trainers, herders, and horses for this annual two-day event.
In addition to the equestrian competitions, the festival showcases the region's culture, including riders who come with their hunting dogs.
These dogs are not bankhar (Mongolian dogs, descendants of the Tibetan mastiff) typically seen outside gers throughout the country.
Instead, they are slender, athletic, and swift—"taiga dogs" similar to greyhounds. These dogs are native to Eastern Mongolia and have been used for centuries to hunt wolves, foxes, and gazelles.
Hunting for meat and fur is an integral part of the herders' lifestyle and a traditional element of Mongolian culture.
In this region of Eastern Mongolia, herders often hunt to supplement their diet, which is less common elsewhere in the country. They hunt gazelles, for example, to avoid depleting their own livestock, allowing them to increase the size of their herds. Having a larger number of livestock enhances herd sustainability, food security, and the ability to generate income from livestock and related products.
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