Reindeer herding is one of important traditional Forest Nenets household activities: thanks to reindeers, they can travel far both in winter and in summer and provide their families with food and clothing.

Like all peoples of the North, before meeting Russian settlers the Forest Nenets used natural materials for their reindeer herding tools. The tools men-herders use are not only functional but also of a symbolic meaning: the NEnets believe they protect from evil forces and bring good luck at hunting. A khorEy, a slightly curved pole circular in cross-section, used to drive a team of reindeers, is one of such tools. It is usually made of birch.

There are male and female versions of a khorey. The male one is longer, it may be up to five meters long. At the front thinner end there’s a round bone or wooden tip to protect a reindeer from injuries. A metal tip at the back end of a khorEy acts as a counterweight: when necessary, a rider can lean on the ground with it. The form of a flat sword with a cut end allows to fight off wild animals.

Before getting in the sledge, a Forest NEnets takes his khorEy and with special sounds he raises the herd. When reindeers start moving, he walks by the sledge for a while, carrying a khorEy in his right hand and reins in the other. After reindeers start running, the herder gets on the sledge right on the move. It is usually done sideways from the right, the left leg put on the sledge, the right one set on the sled. The khorEy helps balancing.

A khorey is also an indispensable part of a reindeer team driving competition, traditionally held in March on the Reindeer Herder Day. A metal tip on the one side and a bone tip on the other side help balancing on the sledge during a fast ride and drive reindeers without injuring them.