The source of all Mongolian horsetail hair is, unsurprisingly, Mongolian horses. Largely unchanged since the reign of Genghis Khan, these magnificent animals actually outnumber people in Mongolia.

While the origins of the breed are difficult to determine, mounted Mongolian nomads have been recorded roaming the steppes of central Asia as early as 2000 BCE. What's more, Mongolian horses are genetically diverse -- indicating very little breeding intervention by humans throughout the millennia.

History and Milk Many Mongolian horses are still wild; indeed, Mongolia is the only place in the world where true wild horses exist. Nomadic tribes living on the steppes still capture and domesticate wild horses. They also milk them to create a fermented dairy drink similar to yogurt, and, occasionally, slaughter them for meat.

Milking a mare is a complicated process. The milker uses a foal to start the flow of milk, but then pulls the foal away and continues milking the mare himself -- but he always must make sure the foal is still touching the mare.

What Are They Like?
Short in stature but long, Mongolian horses may look almost like ponies to western eyes, but Mongolian riders reject that term. Most owners leave their horses' manes long.

Because Mongolian horses are used to roaming freely on the steppes, they're useful for treading through rough terrain. Their freedom also makes them difficult to tame, but once broken, they maintain a friendly nature.

Przewalski's Horse: An Alternate Source of Mongolian Horsetail Hair
The Mongolian breed is similar to another breed called Przewalski's Horse. There are only about fifteen hundred of these horses, but they are all descended from only 31 original horses that began the breeding program in 1945. Before that, a reliable census is unavailable, and for 30 years, the species was designated as extinct in the wild.

The Przewalski's Horse is the closest living wild relative of the domestic horse.

The Naadam Festival
Each year, Mongolians engage in horse racing as part of the Naadam festival, a traditional sporting event that also features archery and wrestling.

The festival is held every July in the Mongolian capital of Ulaanbaatar, and like the Olympics, begins with an elaborate opening ceremony including dancing and music.

The horse race is a cross-country event, with horses racing in individual age classes. Children as young as five years old participate in the races, but the focus is on the horses. Awards are given to the top five horses in each class.

Mongolian Horsetail Hair: Its Uses Mongolian horsetail hair is strong enough to be braided into rope, but delicate enough to be used as violin bow hair. It is one of the most valued types of horsehair in the world.