The life of the Nomads

About half of the population lead this life for some part of the year. Extreme weather in the last 10 years has forced many to the cities but the nomadic culture developed over 3,000 years is still as strong as the Mongolians connection to the land and the sky.

The horse is a central part of this existence. Mongolian ponies are smaller than other breeds but are extremely hardy. Semi wild, they roam the grasslands in big herds, providing a resource for the nomads for transport and sustenance. Airag is a drink made from fermented horse milk which is consumed in quantities by the nomads during the summer months.

The nomads are expert horsemen and love to demonstrate their riding abilities at time of cultural significance. In the saddle or bareback from an early age they know no fear when riding. The race at Nadaam is over 30 km long and the winners are often the young and small children who grow up riding. Being light they are carried easily by the smaller Mongolian horses. The winner of this race is more the horse than the rider.

Apart from horses the other animals important to the Mongolians are yaks, goats, sheep and, in the North, reindeer. All are used for meat, milk and hides. Wool and hair from goats and sheep are important for clothing with Mongolian cashmere famous throughout the world.

From milk come butter, cheese and yoghurt. Dried cheese balls are an important part of the diet of the nomad. The concentrated food is easy to store and carry. The daily routine is focused on caring for their animals and harvesting their bounty – hair, milk and wool.
In the south the camel (two humped Bactrin) is also very important to the nomad.

The nomads move some distances from the place where they make their permanent winter camps. The camps often have corals or barns for the protection of their animals during this time. During summer they will travel further away to find feed for their livestock. At this time they will pack up their gers (or yurt, the western name), a round tent with walls made from a timber frame and covered with felt and canvass, and move the household to better grazing lands.

The ger is well developed to support the nomadic existence – very warm in winter, cool in the summer and impervious to the strong winds the rip through the steppes from autumn to spring. It is easily erected and weighs around 300 kg, making it rather portable. It has a stove in the centre, a south facing door and designated places for all activities.