Horses

Mongolian horses are small, sturdy and strong. We spent our day off riding some in the countryside. Before we had even left the car a little band of Mongolian women had named an claimed us to ride each of their horses. They had discussed our weight height and suitability and assigned us each a horse. When we walked over there was a bit of a fight over Laura; the reasons why never became clear. We had a guide, he had a whip and we were off.

We crossed this deep river. The current was strong and the horses stumbled a little, but they made it. I got my feet wet. You don't wear helmets and to make the horse go faster you have to stand up. So it's as dangerous as it is exciting. i.e very. Hwai-jinn's horse, an independent sort, drove her straight into an over hanging branch. Completely slapstick. She fell off hard. It was not funny at the time. Then it was very very funny.

Laura's horse decided, without letting her know, to sit down on some cool mud it found. She was trying to take a photo at the time so she fell off into the same mud. It was funny even at the time.

My horse was thankfully quite feisty and was up for the occassional gallop. Ken's horse was badly stoned and didn't achieve much. Heidi and Ben did the best. Heidi had a crazed horse which suited her fine, because she has experience and Ben rode his bad boy like a cowboy.