In Mongolia’s coldest valley, horses mean life. But in the Iron Winter, nothing can survive alone.
For countless generations, the herders of the Tsakhir Valley have protected their horses from ferocious arctic storms by amassing a giant winter herd, nominating their bravest young men to protect it.
The daring tradition served as a brutal coming of age ritual, until five years ago, when under increasing environmental pressure, it abruptly ended. Fearful about the loss of culture, elders soon vowed to revive it. And two young friends were handed the daunting responsibility to not only protect the valley’s herd — but to save its most sacred practice.
For four months, the boys battle Mongolia’s deadliest winter on record, testing friendship and faith in a fight to keep 2000 horses alive, and preserve an ancient way of life.
BAYANKHANGAI
Bayankhangai, 47, has been a herder in the Tsaikhir valley his entire life. This will be his 10th winter herd. There is no man more prepared for the role of lead herder.
Bayankhangai has a jovial spirit despite struggling with debt and having to care for a daughter with special needs.
He draws great strength from the winter herd and declares, “when I die, I want to return as a horse herder, in this very valley.” This will be his last and most important winter herd as he will be taking his son Batsbolt, 18.
He confides,“I hope that my son can step up and prove his worth but he’s very green and there will be many challenges.'.
BATBOLD
Batbold, unlike his father, has a timid nature, very quiet and observant, writing
reflections in his diary at night; “I want to make my father proud, no matter how tough it may be.”
Batbold is a perceptive soul who listens carefully to his dreams; “I’ve been
dreaming of wolves lately, I hope I can hunt them before they attack our horses.”
Aside from his father, Batbold looks up to his friend and herding partner Tsagana, 22, From Otgon Valley. During the course of their journey they become like brothers, working intuitively together, wrestling, shooting and dreaming about their future in intimate conversations.
TSAGANA
Tsagana father passed away when he was just one year old, making him strong and self-sufficient. He has a mystique about him, a serious edge, with a large tattoo of a erpent on his wrist and devastating good looks.
This winter herd marks his first attempt at the journey, a feat he has put his hand up for every year in the last 5 years; “When all my friends left the valley to work in the city, I stayed - it has been lonely at times but horses are my life, working with them is all I’ve ever wanted to do.”
Tsagana has quickly built a strong bond with Jijray 48, from Otgon. Like Tsagana Jijray lost his father young and instinctively takes the boy under his wing. He can see a lot of himself in Tsagaanaa.
JIJRAY
Jijray Bayankhangai's right-hand man, is a man who has battled nature for many years, he has completed the winter herd five times and looks much older than his age. Jijray's tough exterior does not match his gentle spirit; he is a warm and nurturing man who wants to inspire the next generation of herders. His great-grandfather taught him to be patient and kind to new herders. He remembers the difficulty of his first herd and does not want to add any more pressure on the young boys than there already is.
He believes people are becoming more self-centered in the world, with Mongolia’s modern market-based economy eroding traditional nomadic culture - “Winter Herd is at he heart of our culture, we must fight to keep this tradition alive, otherwise I fear you will be filming the last generation of nomads.”