The Mongols, especially during the Mongol Empire in the 13th century under Genghis Khan, were nomadic people living on the vast steppes of Central Asia. No cities, no roads, just the vast, endless steppe with a blue sky and herds of horses running freely everywhere.
For the Mongols, horses are not just a means of transportation but are essential for warfare, hunting, herding, and even for marriage and social interactions. A Mongol without a horse is like someone today without a phone; it is nearly impossible to live. An average Mongolian family can own dozens or even hundreds of horses. Horses are property, pride, and symbols of freedom and strength. But horses are not only important in practical terms. In Mongolian beliefs, everything in nature, such as mountains, rivers, and animals, has a soul.
Horses, with their speed, strength, and loyalty, are seen as a bridge between humans and the spiritual world. They believe that the souls of ancestors can inhabit horses, and horses can guide warriors in battle or carry human souls from the dead to the heavens. Therefore, horses are not just ordinary animals but are also very sacred. Eating horse meat in the eyes of the Mongols is almost an offense to the deities or ancestors. Mongolian horses are not as large as war horses in Europe; they are smaller but extremely hardy. This is why many wonder why the cavalry of Vietnam uses Mongolian horses; this is the reason.
Mongolian horses can run dozens of kilometers each day, surviving in the harsh conditions of the steppe, from the cold of -40°C to the scorching heat. Mongolian horses eat grass, drink little water, and can find food even when snow covers the ground. Each Mongolian warrior will carry three to five horses on campaigns, continuously changing horses to maintain speed. This allows them to move as fast as lightning, covering 100 to 150 kilometers each day—a speed that the European armies of that time could only dream of. Horses are living war machines, and eating them would reduce the numbers of this valuable weapon.
Mongols grow up on horseback in the literal sense. Children as young as three or four are trained to ride, shoot arrows, and control horses as if they were part of their bodies. Mongolian warriors can shoot arrows accurately while riding at full speed, even shooting backward. A technique that the Mongols have always mastered. They even invented a stirrup to help warriors stand firm on horseback, using their body strength to shoot arrows or thrust spears.
While European knights wear heavy, cumbersome armor, Mongolian warriors are light and swift as the wind, striking wherever they please. Horses are so precious that they cannot bear to eat them, except in cases of true desperation. Horses also help the Mongols create formidable strategies. They use hit-and-run tactics. Riding into battle to shoot arrows and then quickly retreating before the enemy can counterattack. They even pretend to retreat to lure the enemy into a trap. For example, in the Battle of Mohi in 1241, the Mongols annihilated the Hungarian army thanks to the mobility of their horses.
Horses also support logistics. A Mongolian warrior can survive for weeks just thanks to horses. They drink horse milk and, in emergencies, will drink a few drops of horse blood to sustain themselves. But eating horse meat? Rarely. Because killing a horse means losing a war machine and also losing a companion. Although traditionally, Mongols do not eat horse meat, there are rare exceptions. In times of war and famine, when there are no other options, Mongols may eat horse meat to survive.
However, they usually choose weak, old, or unfit horses. And this must be done with regret. Some historical documents even state that in distant campaigns, the Mongols sometimes killed horses for food, but only when truly desperate, and they often performed a ceremony to apologize to the horse's soul. Because horses are seen as comrades, not just tools. Before battles, Mongols perform rituals to ask for the horse's soul to bless them. Some rituals involve sacrificing horses to thank the deities after victories. But this is also very rare because horses are too precious.
The horses of great leaders like Genghis Khan are considered sacred, and when they die, they are buried with extremely solemn ceremonies. Eating horse meat, especially war horses, is regarded as disrespectful not only to the animal but also to ancestors and deities. Therefore, on the steppes, horses are the most valuable property. A good horse can be worth as much as an entire herd of sheep or cattle. Horses are not only used for transportation but also as tools for herding, hunting, and fighting. Killing a horse for meat is a tremendous waste because a living horse brings much greater value than its meat. And that is also a very practical value.
What do Mongols eat if they don’t eat horse meat?
Mongols have abundant food sources such as sheep, goats, cattle, and milk from these animals. In modern times, they also eat pork. Mutton and beef are staple foods, while horses are kept for work and war. Mongols always see horses as companions, as close as family members. A warrior can spend a lifetime alongside his horse, overcoming battles, crossing the steppe, and surviving in harsh conditions. Horses are named, carefully cared for, and sometimes adorned with beautiful bridles or tails tied with ribbons during festivals. Eating horse meat for Mongols is like eating a friend.
Therefore, when a horse grows old or dies, Mongols will set them free or bury them very carefully instead of killing them for meat. This shows a deep respect for the animal that has accompanied them. Speaking of the affection of the Mongols for horses, they even have an Olympic event for horses. Of course, the Olympics are in quotes. This festival is called the Nadam Festival. It is dedicated to honoring the steppe, celebrating human strength, and love for horses. This festival has a long history of hundreds of years associated with the era of Genghis Khan.
It is said that since the 13th century, when the Mongols expanded across Asia and Europe, Genghis Khan's army frequently organized wrestling, archery, and horse racing competitions to train soldiers. Later, Nadam became the largest cultural festival, both to commemorate the glorious past and to unite the nomadic community across different steppes.
Today, the Nadam Festival is officially held in July each year, coinciding with Mongolia's National Day. The whole country is bustling like during the Tet holiday. People wear traditional costumes and bring horse milk to the capital Ulaanbaatar or the vast steppes to participate together. But in the hearts of every Mongolian, the biggest highlight remains the horse racing. In other countries, horse racing is often a noble sport on short tracks with riders in luxurious cloaks. But in Mongolia, horse racing is entirely different. It is not just a competition but a journey through the wild nature, stretching from 15 to 30 kilometers depending on the age of the horse, and can even reach up to 40 kilometers for mature horses.
The racecourse is not marked with white lines but is endless trails across the steppe through grassy hills, streams, and even clouds of dust when hundreds of horses gallop. What is even more special is that the riders are not adult knights but children. Very practically, lightweight children help the horses run faster without being hindered. Mongolians often say that children learn to ride before they learn to walk, and this festival is a vivid testament to that saying. When the race ends, the winning horse is not only considered the fastest but is also seen as a hero of the steppe.
The horse owner will lead it around the crowd amidst cheers. Then a special ritual is performed, which is to sprinkle horse milk on the horse's head. For the Mongols, horse milk is pure, symbolizing life, abundance, and the blessings of the heavens. When the milk flows down the horse's head, it is not only a wish for good luck for the owner but also a way to honor the animal that has brought glory to the community. Notably, losing horses are also loved. They are not scolded or abandoned but are still comforted and sung to. There are even folk songs dedicated to the defeated horses to console them. This once again shows the unconditional love that the Mongols have for horses.
The animals that have accompanied them throughout thousands of years of history. In the Nadam Festival, not only the horses but also the children riding the winning horses are honored as heroes. Even at just 7 or 8 years old, these young riders become the pride of their entire clan. Some, after winning, are even recorded in local history, considered to carry the mantle of heroes from a young age. The Mongols believe that such children will grow up to be strong, brave, and become the pillars of the tribe. Compared to the modern world, Nadam is the Olympics of the steppe. But perhaps it is even more than that because in each race, there is not only sweat and speed but also the soul of the Mongolian people.
Thus, horses are not just a means of transportation, property, or comrades but the soul of the Mongols. Horses help them conquer the world, sustain their lineage on the steppe, and connect them with the divine. The tradition of not eating horse meat stems from the reverence for deities, from practical values, and from the deep affection for this four-legged friend.