To Kill a Mongolian Horse

Saina visits his friend and colleague Hasa, who is planning to move to the city, and helps him transport his horses for sale. The task marks a step toward change for both of them as they prepare to part with the beasts.

Back home, Saina's father informs him that the family is running out of money, with debtors visiting and electricity outages occurring frequently. The news foreshadows the pressure to find income and stability.

The following morning, Saina goes to the city to meet his son, who is in the custody of his ex-wife Tana. The meeting sets up tension between past loyalties and current struggles.

In the city, Saina tells Tana he plans to return to work at a rural stable, which displeases her. She explains their difficulties and expresses a hope for better education for their son in the city. She criticizes Saina for seeming unconcerned about their finances.

Saina takes the stage in the city for tourists, performing horseback shows where he portrays a soldier in battle. The performance yields only meager tips, highlighting the gap between his skill and financial needs. His art remains his main income as he navigates city life.

Hasa informs Saina that his final show will come before he sells his herd to move to the city for a stable job. Before that performance can happen, Hasa falls from his horse and is badly injured, needing hospitalization. The accident interrupts both their plans and livelihoods.

With bills mounting, Saina considers changing careers and first applies for a job at a mine, hoping for steadier income. The response is silence, leaving him with dwindling options. The pressure to provide for his family intensifies.

Saina applies to a stable in the city but is offered only a position as a stable hand because the stable practices Western riding. He must relearn riding from scratch to fit the style, a challenge for his established Mongolian technique. This limited opportunity pushes him back toward his old performances.

With few options, Saina returns to performing on horseback. During a taming session at the venue, he is bitten by a horse, an incident that adds to his physical and emotional strain.

Saina and his father are visited by debt collectors along with a businessman who wants to buy their herds to build a tourist spot. The pressure of debt and potential sale triggers a heated confrontation about their future. Saina feels the weight of financial burdens tied to gambling debts.

The property is sold and the area is crowded with tourists, but Saina keeps his white stallion. He rides through town, signaling a stubborn attachment to his horse and resisting the tourist project.

Saina rides into town and finds Tana at a restaurant, where she is being forced by her boss to sing Mongolian songs despite illness. He interrupts, grabs a bottle of wine from their table, and leaves with the stallion. The moment underscores his protective stance toward his family and his own pride.

In a drunken state, Saina rides his horse onto the city streets, causing traffic congestion and drawing the attention of onlookers. The scene caps off a tumultuous period and leaves his future uncertain.