At first glance there is a vast expanse of rolling green and brown hills, then you notice that there are horses grazing in the foreground. Mongolia is an arid mountainous country sandwiched between Russia and China. Unlike many countries in history, Mongolia was the conqueror not the conquered. At their peak, the Mongolian empire ruled most of what became China, the middle east and swaths of Europe. Eventually, like most empires it receded to its central lands and remained sovereign ever since although at times it was under influence of either China or the Soviets. Horses are a major part of Mongolian culture. The Mongol armies used horses for transportation, warfare, and even for nourishment. Horse milk, and blood letting in an emergency, and meat from killed animals were used to feed soldiers. Interestingly, the horses of Mongolia come from a very ancient lineage that is very much unrelated to the horses of Europe and North America. European horses are almost entirely derived from a very limited stock, in fact, thoroughbred race horses all come from one of three stallions. There has been an attempt to back cross European horses with Mongolian horses to create a fast and hardy breed, however, the European horses are too big for the smaller mares of Mongolia, and the progeny are not hearty enough to survive the harsh conditions. Mongolian horses can live off very little water, and they adapt to the winter with heavy coats of fur.
World Inspired Landscapes: Mongolia watercolour 9 x 12" watercolour paper, April 2024 (No. 3832a)
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