Recreating the network of horse stations Chinggis Khaan used to deliver messages across continents to facilitate a 1000 kilometre multi-horse race has raised many an eyebrow in the equine world.
On 22nd August 26 riders saddled up to take on the wild and stunning Mongolian steppe, swapping horses and undergoing a veterinary inspection at each of the 23 horse stations positioned 20-40 km apart along the course. Well within the two weeks allowed the pioneering riders from around the world, including one Mongolian rider, made adventuring history.
Just over 7 days after the start from the Great Khaan's ancient capital, Kharkorin, the first two riders completed what many thought was impossible.
South African architect Charles van Wyk, 28, was joint winner along with Mongolian rider Shiravsambo Galbadrakh, reaching the finish line in Dadal on Saturday 29th August.
Charles said: “The hospitality and welcome of the Mongolian people was amazing. We have been brought into their homes and looked after like members of their family, it felt like being at home. Overall it has been a great experience to live in the steppe and ride Mongolian horses”.
The two winning riders beat a field of 26 highly experienced equestrians from ten different countries round the world including Argentina, Spain, USA and the UK. There were 13 female riders and 13 male, aged between 21 and 63.
30 year old British rider Holly Budge, already a record breaking Everest skydiver and adventurer, said the race had exceeded her high expectations:
“I think it's a brilliant idea for an adventure and the horses were awesome. Some of the horses were pretty wild and feisty … but they were really fun to ride.
“At the finish line if you'd have said 'off you go, ride back 1000 km' I would have done it, definitely! And it wasn't just me - there were a few people that said that.”
27 year old Annelie Simmons from London, UK said at the end of the race:
“I was consistently amazed and overwhelmed by the strength and tenacity of the Mongolian horses; they were tough, hardy and strong. There was never a single point whereby I felt we were asking too much of them, if anything we could have ridden harder and faster but I treated each horse as if it was my own – with care and respect.”
Two riders unfortunately suffered concussion and one of those also sustained back injuries after falling off their horses in the first stages of the race so they had to withdraw. Champion jockey Richard Dunwoody rode the first two legs of the race before returning to the UK due to prior commitments. A further rider received medical attention after a fall but was deemed fit and healthy to continue.
That left 23 riders in the Derby after two days of racing and they were all reunited when the final three riders crossed the finish line together on Wednesday September 2nd, just in time for the rescheduled party. The arrival ceremony and celebrations were brought forward after the riders finished the race faster than everyone expected.
All the other riders were on the finish line to welcome the final three in and witnessed the completion of an outstandingly successful first edition of the Mongol Derby.
Jenny Weston, an FEI accredited 4* endurance vet was one of the team of world class foreign vets flown into Mongolia to oversee the extensive horse welfare and veterinary provisions for the race. There were no equine emergencies during the Mongol Derby and all the vets involved had much positive feedback for the organisers after the race.
More detailed accounts from riders, vets and organisers will be published on the Mongol Derby website, including more from Jenny, who summed up her veterinary responsibilities saying:
“From a veterinary perspective there was not much to do for the horses involved in the Mongol Derby apart from assess their suitability before the riders arrived ... then checking that the horses that had been ridden in were recovering well (mainly based on heart rate recovery and gut sounds).
“I spent more time providing veterinary services to the locals for their livestock and first aid for humans (riders and locals) than attending to the horses that were participating in the Derby.
“A couple of horses were involved in freak accidents (that’s just what horses do) but ultimately less than 2% of the horses required any treatment and that was all minor first aid.
“Horse riding is essentially a dangerous sport and throwing semi-wild mounts and an exceedingly remote location into the mix meant that the dangers to the riders were real. Along with horse welfare, sensible behaviour by the participants was paramount to ensure that no major problems were encountered.
“Organisation for this event was a huge undertaking and would not have been possible without the support of the local Ministry of Agriculture, veterinarians, herders and horse trainers. The locals were proud to showcase their country, their horses and their hospitality.”
More information, images and tales from the participating riders will be released, please check the official website http://www.mongolderby.com for the latest updates and images or visit The Adventurists online media centre.
The Mongol Derby is organised by The Adventurists in partnership with Tengri Group in Mongolia.
- Ends –
For more information, hi-res photos, or to arrange interviews with the founder of the Mongol Derby and The Adventurists Tom Morgan, please contact:
Dan Wedgwood
The Adventurists Press Office
[email protected]
Media Centre (hi res images available)
http://media.theadventurists.com
Official website of the Adventurists Mongol Derby:
http://www.mongolderby.com
Notes to Editors:
About The Mongol Derby
Hosted in a country where the horse is part of the fabric of the nation, the inaugural Derby will take endurance horse racing to a new level. The innovative model of staging posts to ensure the horses only travel distances of 40km each will allow riders to race across a course with a gargantuan scale that hasn’t been seen for decades.
http://www.mongolderby.com
About The Adventurists
The Adventurists is run by the League of Adventurists International Ltd, an award winning company based in the UK with gangly tentacles that stretch around the world. A force for global mischief and global good one might say. We're into saving the world, so every adventure raises buckets of money for awesome charities. Right now we're getting close to hitting our target of raising a million pounds every year for excellent causes. For more information visit:
http://www.theadventurists.com
About Tengri Group, Mongolia
Tengri Group are one of the biggest companies in Mongolia, with interests in tourism and hospitality, agriculture, property management, IT and energy.
http://www.tengrigroup.com
About Mercy Corps – Official Charity
Long time partner of The Adventurists previously established adventures, Mercy Corps exists to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression by helping people build secure, productive and just communities. The funds raised by the Mongol Derby riders will be used to fund vital work supporting nomadic and rural herders across Mongolia. For more information about Mercy Corps visit:
http://www.mercycorps.org.uk/