Sports and Activities of Mongolian People----Horse riding蒙古族娱乐活动----骑马

Horse racing is one of the three major competition activities of the Mongolian people.

The Mongolians regard horses as their close friends. On festivals and holidays, the herdsmen will host horse races. The distance can be up to dozens of kilometers. The contest can be divided in to walking races and running races. The walking race is competition of speed, steadiness and beauty. The running race is a competition of speed and resistance. The rectilinear distance for running on the grass is 20 to 30 km , the champion and runner-up will be determined without regard for their age. Before the race, the riders will select their horses and invite experience persons to train them.

The competing horses and riders will be dressed up. All competitors will wear beautifully clothes and riding boots, with color bands tied on their heads. When the contest starts, all the contestants will whip their horse. The riders that win the championship will be awarded big prizes. The horse will have a red ribbon hung on it, considered a major honor.

对于以游牧为生的蒙古族来说，马在他们的生活中占有相当重要的地位，草原上的青壮年男子，甚至是妇女、孩子都擅长骑马，因此蒙古族被世人称为“马背上的民族”，而骑马也被列为蒙古男子必备的三项技能之一。

在蒙古，马被蒙古人视为亲密的朋友，没到节假日，牧民们就会在大草原上举行赛马。尤其是在那达慕大会上，赛马是上最扣人心弦的娱乐竞赛项目。赛马一般分快马赛和走马赛两种，前者主要比赛速度、稳健、美观，后者则主要是比赛速度和耐力。在那达慕大会上一般只赛快马，参赛人数不限，赛程为几十华里。骑手多为儿童，不备鞍，不穿靴，只穿彩衣，戴尖顶筒帽，或者头上缠红绿绸巾。当冠军骑手跑到终点时，全场观众热烈鼓掌，向他敬献哈达或者马奶酒。同时按照传统习惯，观众们向冠军的马头上、身上撒奶酒，佩戴缨子和彩绸带。