After the thundering success of the first ever Mongol Derby, applications are now open for the 2010 return of the mightiest horse race on the planet. With more than 1000 horses being lined up along a gruelling 1000 km route the second Mongol Derby is set to be even longer and tougher than last year.
The Mongol Derby is based on Chinngis Khaan's legendary postal system which could relay messages thousands of miles in a matter of days. Like the mighty Khaan's system the Mongol Derby relies on a network of horse stations (Morin Urtuu in Mongolian) stretching mile after mile across the Mongolian steppe. With ten days to cover the 1000km course riders this is no ordinary horse race, it's not a test of the horse's speed but the rider's skill and endurance - this is the mother of all equine adventures.
The 2010 Mongol Derby will kick off on 4 August 2010 with a pre-race training session on the Mongol steppe. Here the 35 riders will be put through their paces by endurance expert extraordinnaire and Chef D'Equipe of the British Home International Squad, Maggie Pattinson. Then on 7 August the riders will set forth into the wilderness, to tackle the world's greatest multi-horse race.
Anyone who is interested in riding in the 2010 Mongol Derby must apply here. Applications will be open until Friday 22 January 2010 and the 35 successful riders awarded places on Friday 12 February. All applicants must be experienced riders, as well as able to survive in the steppe, one of the remotest corners of the planet.
As with all our adventures, the Mongol Derby aims to save a bit of the planet as well as being a cracking good adventure, and every rider must raise a minimum of £1000 for charity. So far the charity total of the 2009 Mongol Derby is over £70,000.
For more information about the Mongol Derby please see here.