Don't Call Them Ponies

My interest in traveling across Mongolia on horseback for a week was tempered by the fact that I had never ridden before. Needing to set that straight, I have been riding once a week for the past couple of months at a local equestrian center in Lakewood. So far so good - I am enjoying the experience, although there is more physical conditioning than I would have thought. Lately I have been riding Lady Bird who is a bit overweight and needs the exercise as much as I do. She is a sweet horse but sometimes my encouragement is not enough to keep her in a trot. At this point I am feeling pretty comfortable - meaning I don't think I will be embarrassed (or injured) on the trail, but I still have a lot of ground to cover in my lessons - like maybe learning something faster than a trot.

I have learned that Mongolians tend to maintain an attitude different than ours towards their horses. They keep the herd wild, and rotate the animals that they will ride. After a period as a working horse, that are returned to the herd. No names for individual horses, and they only approach them from the left side for mounting - keeping one side of the animal "wild". (Do NOT approach from the wild side.)

Mongolian horses are much smaller than American horses, but DON'T call them ponies. Horses and riders are both a bit touchy on the subject.