Galloping in the Grasslands: A Taste of Nomadic Life
Elizabeth from Equus Journeys tell us all about her incredible trip to Mongolia... with it's breathtaking scenery and fantastic horses.
In the vast wilderness of Mongolia, the sight of distant peaks, wide open grasslands, lush forests and sky-blue rivers will take your breath away. And after a long day of fast riding on a fabulous Mongolian horse, a nomadic family waits for you with a delicious hot soup and a cosy yurt for you to sleep in (if you're lucky, they'll make you a fire too).
But beware: Mongolia isn't a
luxury holiday. Though very special, this country offers real adventures, designed for fit and
intrepid equestrians who are looking for a chance to disconnect with the
modern world and experience a nomadic lifestyle. To enjoy and make the most
of this incredible and exciting journey, you need to be open-minded, adaptable
and happy to go with the flow.
I have to admit to not always
being the most relaxed of travellers. I like regular showers. I can be a little picky
with dairy products. And I’m definitely weird about toilets. But as I galloped across the
grasslands on my hardy chestnut steed, I found I was far too busy enjoying myself to
care that I hadn’t washed for a while or that our next toilet was probably going
to be another hole in the ground. I can be seen on video excitedly sticking my
arm out as my horse sped across the ground, my straggly plaits flying free behind me. With full trust in my mount and no obstacles ahead, I had few
cares in the world -- only some tiny holes to watch
out for and a few riders to overtake.
What did cross my mind in these
moments, was that I may have had the best horse. Not because he was the fastest,
or even the friendliest (I don’t think he liked the attention I gave to him)
but because he ran his little heart out for me when I shouted “Choo! Choo!”
(the Mongolian voice cue to go faster). I might add that his hair colour wasn’t too dissimilar from mine.
You’d think after gallops like
these that your horse would run out of steam, but the Mongolian horses were
some of the toughest and best I have ridden (I wondered if a slow Mongolian horse did, in fact, exist). They also seemed really sensitive to their riders' signals and energy. They actually reminded me very much of the criollo horses in Argentina, who are also strong and ideal for endurance.
Naturally, there were moments
when I found it tough being so far away from the creature comforts of home. I
missed family at times. I remember being
kept awake for seemingly hours one night by a yak crunching grass and moaning right outside the yurt (as if next to my head). The off-road driving made me feel a little strange the first couple of days. I also banged my head on the yurt
doorframes at least twice before I remembered to look where I was going.
But one of the best things about this trip (aside from the riding and incredible scenery) is that it forces you, I guess like any adventure or camping trail, to take a step back from your ordinary, chaotic life. You begin to slow
down and enjoy the simple things like early nights, fresh air, open spaces and beautiful views. And of course, everyone is in the same boat, so you very quickly forge great friendships. You find
yourselves talking about deep and meaningful things like family, relationships
and past trips, as well as the really important stuff: toilet roll (where
is it), water (do we have enough) and the stars (what are we looking at). Of course, you also count on each other for things like body spray, medicines, power banks or sun
cream when someone realises they didn’t bring any/enough.
The other very special part of this particular ride was the opportunity to interact with the nomadic families, even
if it was just smiling, saying thank you and observing how they lived. Here, in the "land of the eternal blue sky”, where around of a third of the population still lives a nomadic life, you witness happy children playing outside with no shoes on,
animals wandering free and whole communities genuinely enjoying a simple, quiet life, away from the noise, pollution and traffic of the city.
And in the end, those cosy yurt fires
in the evenings, the beers and card games by the river, the dips in the springs, and the incredible sunsets, rainbows and
morning views, really make all the tough stuff worthwhile.
Good to know… (for Across the Orkhon Valley ride)
- You will need a sleeping bag as you will be staying in yurts. The yurts usually sleep 3-5 people, so you'll be sharing with other riders.
- This ride is fairly active, with plenty of trots and canters, so you'll need to be competent in all paces and prepared for long days in the saddle.
- If you want to stay in touch with friends or family back home, you can buy a local sim card in Ulaanbaatar and send the occasional text or voice note when there is coverage.
- A good power bank is handy for charging your devices, as the family camps don't have electricity.
More information:
To find out more about our rides in Mongolia, please visit our website.
You can also contact us directly at info@equus-journeys.com or +44 (0)1905 388 977.
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