Ava's Mongolian Derby
Donation protected
In August 2019 I will be competing in the longest and toughest horse race in the world, The Mongol Derby. It exceeds 1000 km through the Mongolian landscape recreating Chinggis Khaan’s legendary postal system which began in 1224. The first race started in 2009 and has took place every year since then.
The challenge is to finish the race using survival skills, horsemanship and sheer determination. The race in total will take 10 days travelling through all weather conditions on semi-wild horses which are changed every 40km. Along the way are vet checks to monitor the condition of the horses, and the vets may impose time penalties if the riders push their horses too hard along the trail. The terrain will include mountain passes, green open valleys, wooded hills, river crossings, wetland and floodplains, sandy semi-arid dunes, rolling hills, dry riverbeds and of course open steppe.
As a young girl I remember watching two South African men on TV riding through Mongolia, competing in the worlds longest and toughest horse race , and I remember thinking wow what fun that looks! So from then I knew that I was going to do that one day too. It happened to be an afternoon whilst I was searching on the internet for more adventures that I came across a page for the Mongol Derby, so I applied in a very short amount of time with no hesitation! I wanted a real challenge, a challenge that tests not just your physical fitness and mind but mainly your horsemanship. I want to prove to myself that I can do anything if I put my sheer determination in to it.
It would mean the absolute world if you would sponsor me to help me achieve this exciting, thrilling challenge.
The challenge is to finish the race using survival skills, horsemanship and sheer determination. The race in total will take 10 days travelling through all weather conditions on semi-wild horses which are changed every 40km. Along the way are vet checks to monitor the condition of the horses, and the vets may impose time penalties if the riders push their horses too hard along the trail. The terrain will include mountain passes, green open valleys, wooded hills, river crossings, wetland and floodplains, sandy semi-arid dunes, rolling hills, dry riverbeds and of course open steppe.
As a young girl I remember watching two South African men on TV riding through Mongolia, competing in the worlds longest and toughest horse race , and I remember thinking wow what fun that looks! So from then I knew that I was going to do that one day too. It happened to be an afternoon whilst I was searching on the internet for more adventures that I came across a page for the Mongol Derby, so I applied in a very short amount of time with no hesitation! I wanted a real challenge, a challenge that tests not just your physical fitness and mind but mainly your horsemanship. I want to prove to myself that I can do anything if I put my sheer determination in to it.
It would mean the absolute world if you would sponsor me to help me achieve this exciting, thrilling challenge.
Organizer
Ava Drake
Organizer
