Morris Rossabis article All the Khans Horses, focused on the influence and importance of the

Mongolian horses. When individuals reflect on the Mongolian empire and its leader of the
thirteenth century, Temujin or Chinggis Khan, they rarely consider the importance of his steer.
However, that steer played a vital role in providing the military advantage they needed in order
for them to be able to conquer such a vast territory. Its hard to underestimate exactly how
integral horses were to Mongolian life but, they provided mobility, sustenance, and were part
of spiritual rituals. Rossabi stated, Genghis Khan and his descendants could not have
conquered and ruled the largest land empire in world history without their diminutive but
extremely hardy steer1. These steers were essential to their ability to take over these new vast
lands. They provided the upper hand in warfare and used them to their full potential in
everyday life. He supports this claim by stating, In warfare, the horses were fast and flexible,
and Genghis Khan was the first to capitalize on these strengths. After hit and run raids, for
example, his horsemen could race back and quickly disappear into their native steppes2.
Mongol battle tactics stemmed from the Mongols nomadic lifestyle. Mongols spent their lives
on horseback, herding and hunting. These skills easily transferred to warfare. The Mongol army
trained every day in horsemanship, archery, hand-to-hand combat and in battle formations and
drills. They had mastered the art of shooting a bow while riding a horse and that gave them the
upper hand against on foot soldiers. In addition to this, their bow range would be more than
350 yards, which was better than the 250 yards that English longbows had. Robert Strayer also
stated, Horseback riding skills, honed in herding animals and adaptive to military purposes,
were central to Mongol conquest3. The preparation and thoughtfulness that the Mongols had
for their horses was unprecedented. Rossabi wrote, A wood and leather saddle, which was
rubbed with sheeps fat to prevent cracking and shrinkage, allowed the horses to bear the
weight of their riders for long periods and also permitted the riders to retain a firm seat. Their
saddlebags contained cooking pots, dried meat, yogurt, water bottles, and other essentials for
lengthy expeditions. Finally, a sturdy stirrup enabled horsemen to be steadier and thus more
accurate in shooting when mounted.4 Not only where their steer crucial for warfare, but for
their long journeys and expeditions. They used their horses for travel, to carry rider and
belongings long distances. During these journeys in the steppe, lacking sustenance and
nourishment for a rider, its told that a Mongol warrior could survive for days on only horse
blood. Legend tells us that the Mongols would let blood from their horse to provide sustenance
and this could keep a rider travelling for days with no food or water. The relationship they held
with their horses was unremarkable and they valued them. Many warriors believed that their
life was tied to their horses, some warriors would state that without their horse there was no
life. Rossabi goes on to state, As one commander stated, If the horse dies, I die; if it lives, I
survive.5

1 Morris Rossabi, All the Khans Horses, Natural History 103, no.10 (October 1994): 48
2 Rossabi, 48
3 Robert W. Strayer and Eric W. Nelson, Ways of the World, (Boston: Bedford/St.Martins,

2016), p.469
4 Rossabi, 48
5 Rossabi, 48