Hello to everybody,
We are planning to visit Mongolia this summer and my wish was to try a bit of horseback riding. I've checked this forum and many others, so I know it is quite possible (though challenging) via Steppenriders, or Horsetrails (if we want to travel very easy). But as I've read, this winter was extremely tough and many horses (and sheep) have died.
I'm not scared, that there will be no horses at all, but my point is - would it be rude (or offending, or unsuitable...) to ask locals for a horse these days? Are they now interested in "weatlhy" (we are from Czech republic:) ) foreigners asking them for some fun? And as we want to travel pretty alone (with a local horse-guide hopefully) will there be some food for us in gers and villages along the way? (Charchorin - Chudjirt - Ogi Nuur - Charchorin). Hoping for some info especially from everbite or mongolhun, who I find really helpful.
Thanks is advance!
cinan
Cinan,
As you read, this winter is still tough nowadays though. It is still snowing and hard for animals to find food to eat.
I do not think it is rude if you ask for horseriding from Mongolians, they would be happy to make you great Mongolian experience, I guess.
Yes, you'd better have at least a local horse guide / depending on your group / and pack your staff on a vehicle.
Central Mongolian route is awesome for horseback riding. I would also recommend you to ride through Kharkhorin, 8 lakes through Orkhon Waterfall and Tuvkhun Monastery area where you can feel more adventure, more attractive and wild nature, around this area.
Good luck
It seems to me that if someone is willing to rent you horses than how can it be rude to do so. If no one is offering, then that is another matter altogether. They may need the horses to survive.
However, it is possible that your payment for the rental would be providing an income to the family. Same with purchasing food. After all, you do expect the owners and providers to make some profit, right?
I would encourage you to check with your guide as to whether the food that is available will be to your liking or whether you should be bringing supplies with you. It may be that the food in the countryside will be quite limited. If food in the countryside is limited, then you might ask the guide how to arrange for payment, whether cash or something else would be more appreciated.
I think this is more a common sense issue than cultural issue.
Ruth
Thank you very much for your fast reply... I hope that everythink will be OK then. We are not planning to arange the horse track in advance, the target is to get to Charchorin and ask someone (Horsetrails most probably) for a help with our journey. That is an aswer for Ruth ("...if someone is offering you the horse..").
We wish all the best for the herdsmen and other people in Mongolia and their animals. Good luck and thank you again.!
If you are interested in horse-riding/camel-riding in the Gobi desert region then send me a Private Message.
I know a herdsman very well who will take you on an amazing but tough trek in the mountains and across the dunes, if you want.
Hi Puddleglum, as I''ve written, we plan to trek around Khangai Nuruu area, not Gobi.. But thanks for the offer anyway! We would surely want to see Gobi desert, but I think we'll have to settle with 2 days in Sainshand on our way to China...
No it wont be rude - we had issues in February using horses because of the lack of food they weren't really strong enough to be ridden for long days. However in the summer it should be ok -certainly all the tour companies are still running horse riding tours. The money you will pay to rent the horses in the summer could make a huge difference to a family next winter if the dzud continues!
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