The Mongol Derby, described as the world’s longest and toughest horse race, kicked off over the weekend, sending nearly 50 riders out to traverse 1000km of Mongolian steppe. The riders, a mixture of endurance, eventing, and outdoors enthusiasts will spend 10 days navigating difficult terrain and an unfamiliar landscape while working with semi-wild horses. This year marks the return of the Mongol Derby after two years of absence due to the coronavirus pandemic.
This year, 46 riders committed to this race, putting their mental and physical strength to the test as they strap on to feisty Mongolian horses, face intense storms and varied weather, and set off across the steppe.
Riders are currently en-route, with exciting updates coming in daily. To follow riders along on their trek, the Equestrianists provide a live race tracking. Additionally, The Mongol Derby’s Instagram account always has some wicked cool stories to watch.
With 19 U.S. riders, we’re well represented. That said, the entire group of international, gutsy, and adventurous equestrians tackling this race are inspiring. Take a look at their profiles and join us in encouraging them along this trip! Spoiler: Eventers are well represented with this group!
A special shout out goes to our USEA members taking the Mongol Derby head on: Renee Senter, Morgan Kelly, Kristin Carpenter, Julie Wolfert, Brandy Dobbyn, Claire Vile, Ashton Garner, and Allison Kohlberg.
And if you’re new to the Mongol Derby, you can take a look back in the EN archives to relive the adventures of our own Leslie Wylie, who competed in the race in 2017. There’s also a great documentary film, All the Wild Horses, available to learn more about the history and logistics of this grand adventure.
