A Haircut for Mongolia’s Half-Wild Horses

Each spring, nomadic Mongolian herders coax what they describe as their “half-wild” herds of horses into corrals to begin a yearly hair cutting ritual. Despite these animals’ undersized stature in comparison to their Western counterparts, lifetimes of grazing, running, and playing with the herd have left their spirits uninhibited and whole—gruff and abrasive both in texture and personality.

Cutting the manes and tails of an entire herd is grueling work. It requires enlisting friends and relatives to help out, knowing the favor will be returned as the ritual is repeated by each herder’s family.