Tibetan Horse Festival

Tibetan Horse Festival

Summer is one of the most amazing times to visit Tibet. People who live in Tibet love summer because of the Horse Festival. There are a few that are well worth the trip up there. 

The Litang horse Festival is one of the most well known in Tibet. The horse festival is held in August and takes place Ganzi, Litang. Litang is called High Town because of its altitude of 4133 meters. The festival takes place in the grassland called Maoya, which means 'flat place as a bronze mirror. The festival is held when the grassland is the greenest and the flowers are in full bloom. Families set up their round white tents and stay for the 10 day festival. 

The racing horse are highlight of the festival. They are often dressed in bright colors, embroidered belts,  decorated saddles and lots of bronze bells. The races include trekking, riding skills, long distance but the most anticipated is the horse jumping. The horse jumping is when the rider almost jumps off the horse and hangs under the belly of the horse upside down or standing on the back of the horse while the horse is running. T

This is a photo from the Litang horse Festival, the horse jumping competition. The man on the horse has not fallen from his horse. He is competing in the horse jumping competition. The riders hang off the side of the horse, until their hands touch the ground. Some of the riders can hang under the belly of the horse and other can stand on the back of the horse while the horse is still running. 

Another Tibetan horse festival that is the Gyantse Horse Racing Festival.  The festival is held in either June or July and this festival began in 1408. During this festival horses and riders try many of their different skills. These include racing, archery and shooting.