Mongolia Winter Horse Festival Tour – Equine Photography Workshops

 

We, the photographer crew, at Ayan Travel, have been arranging photo tour to the annual Winter Horse Festival, called Taliin Tumen Aduu / Талын Түмэн Адууны Баяр/ in Mongolian language, since it was held first time in east Mongolia. The first year was snowy and cold but we did take excellent photoshoots of Mongolian winter horses, which were published and featured on world class magazines and publications and it has been promoting the festival to the world until today. 

 

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The Tawny Stallion at The Magic Moment, the featuring image shows a life in winter, horse stamina and  much more about  Mongolia’s horse culture to the world. © Batzaya Choijiljav

 

taliin tumen aduu winter horse festival mongolia

The Winter Horse Festival starts with cavalrymen parade. 

 

Taliin Tumen Aduu - The Winter Photo Destination in Mongolia

The festival has been captivating international photographers as a winter photo destination in Mongolia. Travelers, photographers, travel bloggers started to travel to Mongolia in November to experience Mongolian horse culture, nomadic lifestyle in winter. Local horsemen, small kids, women in beautiful national costume gather on the great plain and they show off their horse skills, cute kids attend parade on horseback, well dressed couples show their elegant decorated saddles and participate “Most Beautiful Couple” contest, traditional horse games, including pole grabbing from ground on horseback, lassoing horses etc…

 

winter horse festival in mongolia

Nomadic Mongolia, the rider family at the horse festival 

 

winter horse festival in mongolia

 

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Grabbing pegs, one of the most interesting competitions which shows horse skill of young men.

 

mongolia horse festival

Horse lassoing is also must hold the game at the festival

 

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The festival attendees in their national costume, look so traditional and gorgeous 


The highlight of the festival for photographers are equine photographing sessions and workshops. Our photography sessions begin with a brief discussion about Mongolian horse specialties, such as their characters, relationship between horse and horseman and nomadic horse culture. Then let’s discuss our photographic locations and other private sessions, such as nomadic people’s portraits, dozens of horses galloping on the steppe and taking action images of horse competitions etc…
After the conformation shots follows the riding shots. We will begin with some general riding shots and specific captures, such as ascending horses, portraits and your own needs of capturing. 

 

mongolian horse culture

 

horse photography mongolia

 

horse photography mongolia

 

Mongolia horses festival

 

And on the second day, an uncommon hunter dog competition is held. This is another ancient tradition of hunting with Taiga dogs. It is said that a loyal defender of the ancient Mongolian kings were the hunter dog Taiga. Some of the art pieces from ancient times of Kubilai Khaan shows the appearance of a Taiga dog in hunting. Later, few local hunters have grown and increased the number of hunter dog. The dogs rut starts as soon as the cold begins in November, this is one of the reason why taiga dog can grow as a very enduring dog. Winter puppy hunts mice during summer and goes for bigger prey during fall. Mongolian hunters’ hunting method is amazingly sophisticated. In the fall, the wolf attacks the herds, in order to protect the herds, hunters go for wolf hunting with the company of Taiga dogs. This tradition is reviving in the last few years and the best example is that during the annual winter horse festival they are appeared and participating in hunting competitions. So it makes your image collection unique.

 

hunting dogs in mongolia

 

hunting dogs in mongolia

 Taiga, the special hunter dogs. 

 

hunting dogs in mongolia

Mongol man and his hunter dog, the photo was taken in 2016 during the festival.


All the photographs of the festival taken and credited by Batzaya Choijiljav, the Mongolian professional photographer and photo tour organizer at Ayan Travel. 
If you are interested in a photographic trip to Mongolia especially equine photography, we are here to arrange your photo adventure in a professional way. 

 

 

 

 

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