621 Miles through Mongolia in 6 Days!

Well hello there!

       My name is Ali Woodward, a local horse endurance athlete eagerly searching for sponsorships to be able to compete in the Mongol Derby in August 2025. Riding 25 different horses over a 621-mile journey to be finished in ten days with eleven pounds of gear in the mountainous terrain of Mongolia, the Mongol Debry is arguably the world’s longest horse race and the toughest equestrian event on the planet. My determination is limitless, but my financial means are not, which is why am seeking support from family, friends, and local businesses like you to help get me there! 

        I currently compete throughout the year in American Endurance Riding Conference (AERC) hosted rides ranging from 25 to 100 miles in a day. I started my endurance journey eight years ago and progressively have been competing in more difficult events. More recently I have finished 1st place in the 55-mile City of Rocks Ride, the 60-mile Twenty-Mule Team ride, the 50-mile American River Classic, along with several other top-ten placements. I consider myself an extremely competitive athlete with no limit on my capability and determination. Every time I hear of a more challenging event I seek to enter! Alongside my horse riding, I train intensively in CrossFit and Ultrarunning, both of which greatly complement and boost my global abilities. Last year I completed both my first marathon at City of Rocks (Idaho) and my first 100-mile run at Rio de Lago (Folsom, CA). I currently work as an independent horse trainer in Lincoln, training and riding multiple horses each day to prepare them for endurance racing. To the surprise of many, I am still not able to own a horse, and rely on the generosity and trust of the equine community for a mount. My ambition has no boundary, however my financial means do, and I will not be able to endeavor without the backing from friends, family, and local entities. 

        At an entry cost of $17,000 USD, riders acquire the support of ride management, medical staff, equine veterinarians, 250 Mongolian horse herders who feed and water the horses throughout the event, and 29 local families who provide hostels to eat and sleep along the rigorous trail system. Over the ten days, riders can sleep under the stars, or be taken in by a herding family with a place to sleep and a meal at their table until the sun comes up and then it’s back to riding! The herding families are rather good at improvised tack, equipment, and bodily repairs out there. A specialist medical response team is stationed for on-call emergencies and rescues. International and local equine veterinarians are appointed to ensure the welfare of the horses and administer the vet inspections at each horse station. Apart from the typical staffing cost of rides, the Mongol Derby is distinguished by its financial contributions to the local Mongolian people who make the ride possible. Each family and herder involved in the race is fairly compensated as a portion of the race entries. My goal is to raise at least $20,000 to factor in associated travel costs and equipment in addition to the registration cost. This race is a next-level dream, for which I have worked very hard to get here, but without the support of individuals and businesses like you it will just be an idea. I would very much love to represent the Endurance Community in Northern California!! Thank you for taking the time to read this!

Sincerely,

 Ali Woodward