Controvers follow in Mongolia after the government lifts the ban on spring horse racing · Global voices

On January 29, the Mongolian government lifted the spring horse racing ban, which banned the holding of races between November 1 and May 1. The ban has been in place since 2019.

Between 2017 and 2018, Mongolia’s Supreme Court issued Two decisions that put an end to the government sanctioned the biggest spring horse racing, called downy, and banned the training of children jockeys for winter and spring horse racing. This again forced The government to issue a decree prohibiting the entire winter and spring horse racing.

The government has now allowed the holding of horse racing from March 1, although winter races are still prohibited. The country’s Deputy Prime Minister S. Amarsaikhan advertised This decision and noted that “the authority and the responsibility to organize” spring horse racing will be handed over to local authorities.

Here is a Facebook video with the statement from Deputy Prime Minister S. Amarsaikhan to lift the ban on spring horse racing.

It came after the protest from the Mongolian riders who arrived at the most important Sukhbaatar square in the capital Ulaanbaatar on January 25 and drove on their horses. The sought The abandonment of the ban and argued that it would create favorable conditions to protect and celebrate the nation’s cultural heritage and traditions.

Here is a Facebook post with photos from the protest arranged by Mongolian riders on January 25.

Lifting the ban caused immediate controversy with opponents of the ban due to the dangers it poses to children’s jockeys, which is the primary affected group. In Mongolia, it is usual for boys aged 5 and 13 to participate in horse racing due to their small size and weight and risk their health and life.

Deadly races and kids jockeys

Between 1996 and 2024, 53 children’s jockeys Died As a result of falling by horses and maintaining damage. Between 2017 and 2024, a total of 3,070 children dropped off Horses and 16 became disabled. Organizing horse racing during winter and spring months, characterized by extreme cold, snow, ice and mud, increases the chances of jockeys falling off horses and freezing their limbs and cheeks.

Here is a YouTube video about the children’s jockey culture in Mongolia.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgfui2sqzd0

Government tried to tackle these problems by setting a Age limit At 12 years for children’s preparations to participate in spring races. It encountered cynical as it made it look like the authorities did not care with security and well -being for children over this age who will participate in the tournaments.

In addition, participation in horse racing in winter and spring affects children’s studies and academic success, as they either have to miss classes or combine school with daily training and competitions. By 2024 there were 11,000 registered Children’s jockeys, but only about 1,000 of them drove their own horses. Child Jockey’s receives under minimum wage, and in the event of 2,002 of them it was not clear if they were paid at all, which raised Concerns over potential exploitation.

Here is a Facebook video in which a 14-year-old Mongolian boy tells his story of being a jockey since second class and sorry not to go to school.

It was these harmful consequences for children that led to the ban in the first place.

Protection of riding inheritance and traditions

Mongolian riders who have struggled to lift the ban since 2019, argue That the ban put the country’s heritage, riding traditions and the whole industry around it at risk of disappearing. The complained that Mongolian riders have taken their horses, children and skills across the limit to China’s Inner Mongolia Region where they can run and showcase riding traditions without restrictions. They were afraid That it would eventually lead to a situation where China could detect Mongolian riding traditions as its own in UNESCO Immediate Cultural Heritage List.

Still, critics claim that preserving this cultural heritage should not come to the price of children’s lives. One of the toughest opponents of lifting the ban is a member of parliament Khurelbaataryn Baasanjargal performed Her own archive research and found that Spring Horse Races only occurred in the late 20th century as one of the new forms of Lunar New Year’s celebrations. According to her finding, horse racing was historic held Only below Naadam FestivalIt was completed between May and August.

Here is a Facebook post with photos of children’s preparations participating in horse racing that is held during the winter and spring months.

Powerful lobby groups and Mongolian squid games

The seemingly brave ignoring children’s best interests and lifting the ban has pushed Mongoliers to explore the lobbying business of Mongolian riders and politicians’ interests in horse racing. It’s been revealed That the Prime Minister and more than a dozen cabinet ministers own hundreds of thoroughbred horses or have a horse training background, creating a potential conflict of interest.

Here is a Facebook post with the information about the horses owned by the Prime Minister and other top -level officials.

The Mongolian riding federation, the head Lobby group Behind lifting the ban, over 100,000 members have nationwide with influential business people, politicians and state officials at high -level at the helm of the organization. Basaanjargal indicated The fact that the Federation took advantage of its influence in the parliamentary elections in 2024 by mediating an agreement to exchange its members’ votes to lift the ban, which allowed the ruling Mongolian People’s Party to remain in power.

Here is a Facebook post that shows how the Mongolian riding association is governed by powerful business people and politicians.

The lifting of the ban and the upcoming restoration of spring races in spite of overwhelming proof of its injury to children pushed Mongoliere to feel this practice as the country’s version of Octopus games. They claim that what is similar to the show, where poor and poorly placed ordinary player plays deadly games for a few ultra -rich individuals, vulnerable groups will continue to risk their lives for entertaining the country’s political and economic elites.