Mongol Warhorse Breeding System

Timeline

1. 1206–1260Mongolian Plateau and Central Asian steppe · Eurasian SteppeUnder the thousand- and ten-thousand household system, herding households supplied warhorses per levy orders; cavalry rotated among multiple remounts, with breeding emphasizing endurance and rough-forage tolerance to support long-range mobility on western campaigns and southern expeditions.
2. 1321–1330Northern Yuan pastures and along the post road network · Yuan dynastyThe Yuan dynasty maintained horses at relay stations along post roads; envoys and military-administrative personnel of the various khanates changed horses with tallies for rapid travel; steppe tribes still raised warhorses traditionally for frontier cavalry and khanal court ceremonial use, with horse quality directly affecting trans-Eurasian communication efficiency.
3. 1340–1400Volga–Don steppe · Golden HordeGolden Horde nobles and herders continued raising light steppe horses for light cavalry patrols, tax collection, and Black Sea trade escort; horses were also sent as tribute and goods to neighboring polities, and the nomadic military tradition persisted after the khanate's fragmentation.