Every second tourist arriving in Mongolia dreams of riding a horse across the steppes. This is definitely possible but by no means easy.

The best way of doing this is to head for a tourist-orientated area, such as Khövsgöl Nuur, and organize a horse trek with one of the local guesthouses.

Equipment is sometimes limited but Russian saddles are generally available (a good thing because Mongolian saddles are a pain in the arse).

Guided treks can last from a few hours to several weeks and are fairly priced - a guide and a horse costs around $20 per day.

It is also possible to buy a horse, ride it for as long as you please, and sell it off to another herder when you are done. Expect to pay $100-150 for a horse in good shape.

For horse tack, saddles and related equipment, pay a visit to the vast Naran Tuul outdoor market in Mongolia's capital, Ulaanbaatar.