Mongolia is a large, flat, landlocked country in Asia, sandwiched between China to the south and Russia to the north. Throughout its history, it has relied on the horse, an animal that evolved on the plains of Central Asia, and which was domesticated in that region over 3,000 years ago. Today, Mongol horses are of a stocky build, with relatively short but strong legs and a large head. Most of them roam free.


Vocabulary:
- medal
- proud
- blesses
- rich

Videoscript:
N Narrator, D Dr Wade Davis

N The Mongolian summer festival is called the Naadam. It's famous for its horse races.

D The Naadam is a race and a celebration. It's all about competition but it's also about community and .

N This is Doctor Wade Davis. He is studying the festival of the Naadam. He is interested in what happens in the competition and why the horse race is so important to the local people.

D… to endure whatever life brings them.

N The Naadam festival is about to begin.

This is 'Mukhdalai'. He's preparing his horse for the race.

This is another trainer called 'Namjin'. He's Mukhdalai's biggest rival in the competition, but also one of his oldest friends.
The day of the horse race arrives and this Buddhist woman blesses each horse for luck. There are about 20 horses competing this year. Some competitors have travelled 80 kilometres to get here.

But the Naadam is not just a horse race. It's a chance for everyone to come together and enjoy displays of traditional skills.

There's a rodeo with wild horses.

Picking up poles at high speeds needs great ability on a horse.

Wrestling is also a popular national sport in Mongolia.

But the main event is the horse race over 25 kilometres. The riders take their horses to the starting point at the bottom of the valley. The horses will go up the hills and then down to the next valley and the finishing line.
When the race begins, the horses will reach speeds of 50 kilometres an hour. Early on in the race, Namjin's son in green and white is doing well but Mukhdalai's horse falls back. But eventually the power of Mukhdalai's horse takes over.
At the halfway mark the horse takes the lead and Mukhdalai's son shouts at the horse to run like the wind.

Namjin's horse can only keep up for a while, then he starts to slow down.

At the finishing line, Mukhdalai's son and horse wins the race — a long way ahead.

Namjin's son is fifth.

Mukhdalai receives first prize with a medal, a cheque and a Mongolian fiddle. Namjin also receives a medal for fifth place. This was the first race for his horse so it's a good result. At the end of the day, everyone feels proud.

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