Horse marking tradition is a practice historically used to identify horse ownership and track lineages. This historical practice is an application used to determine the owner and track the lineage of horses. This tradition has taken various forms in different cultures and has become part of cultural identity, social structures, and economic activities of societies.

In Turkic and Mongol cultures, horse marking is an important element that determines the sex, age, owner, and in some cases, the value of horses. Among the Mongols, this practice involves marking horses with a hot iron from their foalhood, and this process is supported by special traditional events and festivities. There is a similar marking tradition among the Turks. According to this tradition, marks are found on horses and cattle, and on the ears or noses of rams and sheep, on their backs, tails, or heads using marked paint. Also, marks are used in wheat or flour stores, on grave stones, rugs and carpets, and bags and sacks.

^{Marked Horse Image (AI Generated).}

History of Horse Marking

The horse marking tradition has been a widespread practice, especially among nomadic societies. These societies used horses both as a means of transportation and as economically valuable animals. Therefore, identifying horses was of great importance. Horses played crucial roles both in war and daily life, and the Turks used marking as a symbol of prestige and status. In nomadic societies, the number, type, and even the marks of horses were one of the important factors that determined a person's social status. The horse marking tradition was strengthened during the migration of the Turks from Central Asia to Anatolia and has become a symbol of the Turks' relationship with horses.

Marking Methods and Meanings

Horse marking is generally defined as a process done with a hot iron. In this process, a piece of iron is heated to a high temperature and applied to the horse's skin. This mark on the horse's body is usually applied to the back, head, or legs. Marks can be symbols showing the animal's owner, lineage, and sometimes age or value.

The marking method has varied in different periods. While some societies only marked the horse's back, others also placed marks on the head or tail. Also, specific mark shapes were used among different lineages and families, and these marks strengthened the sense of social belonging. Marks may have been adorned with symbols with different meanings. These include geometric shapes, animal figures, or lineage names. These marks showed horses not only as animals but also as symbols of social ties and power relationships, and these traditions were carefully preserved.

Geographic Distribution and Meaning of Marking

The horse marking tradition is used not only to indicate individual ownership but also as a symbol of ethnic and tribal identity. The use of the same marks over long distances shows how deeply rooted and socially accepted this tradition is. For example, although there is a distance of approximately 2000 kilometers between Nalaih district, affiliated with the capital Ulaanbaatar, and Bayan-Ölgii province located in the west of the country, it has been documented that similar or identical marks are used. This situation is either explained by the fact that the mark owners come from the same tribe or by the fact that the similarities arise coincidentally because the marks are determined personally throughout Mongolia.

Marking Points and Directional Preferences

Mongolians' preference for marking horses is shaped around specific anatomical areas. The direction of the impression is mostly done on the left side, which is the rider's side. However, if the same or a similar mark has been used on another horse before, the new mark is applied to the right side to make it distinctive.

Mark Types

Mongolian herders are known to have traditionally used three types of marks.

Üsen Tamga (Wool Mark )

This mark, applied with a heated metal tool, only touches the horse's wool, not the skin. Considered a temporary marking method, üsen tamga is usually applied to purchased or borrowed horses. It disappears with the wool shedding in the spring. Therefore, it is used for non-permanent situations.

Hörsön Tamga (Soil Mark )

Positioned somewhere between üsen and mahan marks, hörsön tamga is applied with pressure closer to the skin, but it still does not completely burn the skin. Therefore, it is a type of mark that may fade within a few years.

Mahan Tamga (Flesh Mark )

It is a permanent marking method. It is done by applying high-temperature metal directly to the skin. It does not disappear in the applied area, and the mark is permanent. Because it is painful, it is not applied in cold weather. Since the mark takes time to heal, it must be done carefully.

^{A Marked Mongolian Horse (UTEKED)}

Examples of Symbolic Mongolian Horse Marks

Zürhen Tamga (Heart Mark)

Zürhen tamga takes its name from the Mongolian word zürkh, meaning “heart”. Since the heart is considered a vital organ for both humans and animals, this symbol carries great symbolic meaning in Mongolian culture. Although it is thought that life can continue without hands, eyes, or limbs, a life without a heart is not possible. Therefore, the heart figure not only indicates ownership in the marking tradition; it is also seen as the source of life, a sign of essence.

Zürhen tamga has been widely used by Mongols as a mark of horses. This mark indicates the horse's belonging to its owner, its spiritual attachment, and its value. The mark is mostly processed in the shape of a heart and has various variations in meaning in some regions. In Inner Mongolia, this type of mark is also called “buyvan damga” among the people. The term “buyvan” can also mean “felt, sacred being” in local dialects, further strengthening the value attributed to this heart symbol.

Khas Tamga (Pure Mark)

Khas tamga is a special type of mark with deep historical and symbolic meanings among the Mongols. The word “Khas” is based on the Sanskrit word “samgard”. This word means “original”, “noble”, “pure”, or “sacred” in Mongolian. The mark is often processed as a geometric figure with four ends bent at right angles to each other. Although it has a swastika-like structure in appearance, the origin and meaning of this symbol in Mongolian culture is much older and different.

Khas tamga represents movement, continuity, and life energy. It is also identified with peace, balance, and cosmic order. In Mongolian traditional beliefs, themes such as the cyclical nature of the universe, the harmony of animals with nature, and the sacredness of human-animal relationships are symbolized by this mark. In Mongolian society, the use of the “khas” figure is not limited to horse marks; it is also frequently used in traditional textile products, home decorations, and war equipment. In this respect, khas tamga has a deep place in the cultural and belief systems of the Mongolian people.

^{A Mongolian Horse with Zürhen Tamga (UTEDEK)}

Horse Marking Tradition and Today

Today, the horse marking tradition continues in some places. In villages engaged in traditional animal husbandry, marking is still used to identify horse ownership. However, with modern animal husbandry, this tradition has become less practiced. Nevertheless, this tradition is revived in some cultural events, festivals, and celebrations.

The horse marking tradition is also preserved culturally and represents historical value. In this context, the marking process is seen not only as an indicator of ownership but also as a cultural element symbolizing the people's attachment to their past and cultural identity.