Gobi Desert, Mongolia - Down to the Wire

In honor of the Kentucky Derby next Saturday I chose to highlight horse racing in another part of the world - Mongolia.  In July during the Mongolian festival of Naadam, young children serve as jockeys, riding bareback across great distances in the Gobi desert.  A win means bringing honor to their family and bragging rights for a year.  I was lucky enough to be staying in a small village in the Gobi Desert when they celebrated this colorful festival of horseback riding and wrestling. 

I'm heading to the Kentucky Derby next weekend, so I'm excited to see how it compares to the Naadam festival; and of course am excited to photograph it!
 

Sherry Ott is the Photography Editor for Wandering Educators. 

She has been traveling the world for the last 3 ½ years with her camera as her main companion.  She brings us the Photo of the Week from her travels. 

To view more of her photography, visit her portfolio of work at Global
Photography by Sherry Ott.  Or if you’d like to read of her travel, expat, and ESL adventures, go to Ottsworld.