A young rider leans forward, hand buried in the mane of his straining horse, hooves kick up dust in a final push to a finish line.
Villagers and trekkers alike cheer the riders on. Triumph—by a hair! To win a race at Yartung means a year of honor in Mustang for daring horsemen and archers. No wonder this annual festival at the end of the monsoon is four days of dare-devilry and drinking. Visitors are warmly welcomed at the Yartung temple site in the Annapurna foothills a half-day trek from Moksha Mustang. Of course, you can get here much quicker arriving on horseback!
