Early morning horse herding at Genghis Khan Retreat, Mongolia, June 2024

Early morning horse herding at Genghis Khan Retreat, Mongolia, June 2024. The horses were released onto the steppe every evening and herded back to the corral for riding every morning. Herding could take from 1-2 hours depending on how far the horses had travelled during the night.

[@geraldblair5084]

How many hands are they

[@energy101]

@@geraldblair5084 Around 13-14 hands. I can tell from the different polo sticks we used too. We played polo on the horses at this club. The polo sticks are around 6 -7 inches shorter than normal. Normally polo ponies are 15 hands to 15.3.

[@conniewolf7300]

Wood has no give....very uncomfortable for horse and rider, I would think! But it's their way, their custom.

[@energy101]

@@conniewolf7300 they did have a thick leather blanket underneath, and a few numnahs. One of the herders said that if the horse booked they could stay on easier. Also what's strange is that the stirrups were not adjustable, so one tall guy had extremely short looking stirrups. Maybe it's just tradition and pride 😃

[@energy101]

facebook.com/share/r/npqPJ1EiApjk5JYu/?mibextid=oFDknk
The above link tends to support that the wooden saddle helps if the horse bucks.