Mongolia Naadam Horse Race

Overview

The Mongolian horse race at Naadam is not a professional event but a cross-country race of 15 to 30 kilometres ridden by children aged 5 to 13, who select the best horses from the herd and race without saddles across the open steppe. Witnessing the arrival at the finish line where the winning horse is celebrated with traditional songs and the losers are similarly honoured creates one of the world's most extraordinary sporting spectacles. The provincial Naadam races away from Ulaanbaatar are more authentic.

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Prefilled for 1 July 2027 — the next best-season window. Search on partner sites — opens in a new tab.