The Experiment in International Living offers unique, safe, and educational ways to see the world in immersive summer abroad programs for high school students. One of their special programs involves horseback riding in Mongolia. Four former Experimenters wrote an ode to their experience and the anticipation of riding on the lush green countryside in a horseback excursion across this beautiful nation.
BY ANDERS, ANDREA, ANGEL, AND ANGELIKA:
The sun followed us for 24 hours. Its late-setting nature mimicked our shared feeling of exhausted excitement. Landing in Ulaanbaatar was like a sigh of relief; we had finally arrived! It’s amazing how well you can get to know a group on a seemingly endless ride. However, we were all still a little nervous to go into “real Mongolia.” The biggest test, according to our group leader, Luis, was navigating a local market to buy horseback riding boots.
The market was filled with hundreds of stands and thousands of local people making their weekly purchases. The outdoor market had a distinct smell most of us had never experienced before. The Mongolian language seemed so foreign to us.
The sellers showed us more boots as we tried each pair on. If they were too small, we tried to gesture to imply “one size bigger” or “smaller, please.” We all, in the end, found our own riding boots! We will use these on our next adventure to Hatgal.
Sitting in the airport, heading to Hatgal feels like the beginning all over again. What will Hatgal be like? Our new boots await the open expanses and pounding of horses’ hooves.
Want to give your high school student the adventure of a lifetime while still keeping their equestrian passion in mind? Sign up for The Experiment in International Living today; two trips in Mongolia and Argentina offer amazing horseback experiences that will give them a new outlook on horses and travel.
Click here to read more about The Experiment in Mongolia!
Click here to read more about The Experiment in Argentina!
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The Experiment in International Living is the most experienced provider of summer abroad programs for high school students. For more than 85 years, our immersive programs have allowed participants to explore the world in an authentic and impactful way, while developing enduring friendships through hands-on cultural experiences and homestays. Students come away from The Experiment with invaluable cultural, interpersonal, leadership, language, and college-prep skills that help them thrive in diverse environments and careers.