Help Grace Race: Mongol Derby 2025

Introduction

Sainuu (Mongolian for Hello), everyone! This August, I will be celebrating my 30th year by tackling the biggest adventure of my life, the Mongol Derby. The Mongol Derby is the world’s longest (and toughest) horse race in the world, riding semi-feral Mongolian horses for 10 days, 1000 km (620 mi) across the steppe. If you haven’t heard of this before, it’s similar to the movie Hidalgo, with just a bit less Hollywood magic. I have created this GoFundMe in response to those who have been kind enough to ask how they can help, and due to the nature of this event, I am grateful for any support, as the time and cost are hefty.

How Did I Get Here?

If you've met me before, you know that my world revolves around horses. My mother shared her joy of riding with me before I could even walk, holding me on the saddle when I was only a few months old. From then on, I was hooked. I began begging for lessons, summer camps, and anything that could get me involved with these amazing animals. Three-Day Eventing (aka equine triathlon) became my focused sport, but I was always looking for ways to expand my riding skills. From Mounted Archery to Vaulting, if it had to do with horses then I have given it a shot. When I heard about this race at 22 years old; I knew it would be a dream to tackle it. Now that I’m in my 30th year, the pieces have come together, and I was 1 of 45 international riders to be selected to compete in 2025. With all the hard work and preparation leading up to the race, I look forward to testing my horsemanship, determination, and grit, all while learning about this amazing, Mongolian way of life. There is no other way that I'd like to honor one of the most important things in my life, than getting to experience the ultimate horse culture.

What Exactly Is This Insanity?

Let me break down the absolute insanity that is the Mongol Derby. When I mention that the Derby is a race, I really mean that to finish is to win. Out of the starting competitors, only about half end up finishing due to a multitude of possible mishaps. So what makes this race so hard, you may ask?

The Race: The race is a recreation of Chinggis Khaan’s legendary postal service, having to navigate to 29 horse stations along a set route, using only maps and a Garmin GPS. This sounds easy enough, but it’s quite the challenge on the back of a galloping horse that may have other opinions. You can find more info on their website.

The Horses: The mounts are semi-feral Mongolian horses, which are drawn randomly out of a hat every 40km (25mi). Standing at only 12-14 hands, these horses are unlike anything we have at home. They are used to surviving the harsh climate through grit and heart, and the Mongolian people celebrate their spirited ways. While steering and stopping might be more of a negotiation than an agreement, these little horses are machines in long-distance riding if you manage to successfully get onto its back. At each horse station, you go through a vet check to make sure that each horse’s heart rate returns to normal, and that they have come in sound. If they do not do so within 30 minutes, it is a 2 hour time penalty.

The Location: The race takes place in the middle of the Mongolian steppe, hours away from any city. As we try to navigate our way from station to station, we will be facing terrain that features dangerous marmot holes, rising rivers, wild animals, and extreme weather. At night, we are allowed to stay in the gers at each horse station (packed with other riders); however, if we want to make the finish time, we will also need to camp out on the steppe itself and hobble the horses, or find a nice family unaffiliated with the race to take us in for the night.

The Duration: Riders have 10 days to finish the 1000km (620mi) distance of the race. To maintain this pace, you need to be covering 50-75 miles per day, while abiding the designated riding hours of 7am to 7pm. That is roughly 12 hours in the saddle a day. On top of this, you are subject to vet, assistance, and medic penalties that result in having to sit out for 2 hours each. That doesn’t sound like much, but it can be costly when any minute of riding counts. If it is clear that you are behind the pace and cannot finish in time, they disqualify you from the race. The biggest doozy of all is that we are only allowed to carry 5kg (11lbs) of gear to last us the whole race. That means we will be at the mercy of breaking gear, running out of food, and bartering for anything else we may have not been able to pack.

Personal Hindrances: After being born 2 months premature, weighing at 2lbs, the doctors told my parents to expect me to be “average.” I have been succeeding in proving them wrong by pushing the boundaries of what I can do, but as much as I am obsessed with riding, it is not easy for me. I endure tendon pain in my ankles due to hypermobility, every time I ride. I also have injuries to my knee and shoulder that are aggravated by the motions experienced during riding. Pushing my body through the wear and tear for ten days is probably going to be the most painful thing I've ever experienced, but I am excited that it will be doing what I love.

Why Does It Cost So Much?

The entry fee to this race is costly, but it’s because the money goes towards hosting the race itself. This money goes towards paying the local herders for the use of their personal horses and gers (yurts), hiring equine vets to ensure horse welfare, human medics to ensure human welfare (to a degree), the GPS tracking technology and broadcasting, race management, and much more. For personal costs, I have had to factor in training, travel expenses, and gear purchases. While I have been saving up for a long time to enter this race, any bit of help is huge!

How Can You Follow This?

If you are interested in following me throughout the race, then there are a few options. All riders wear a GPS tracker, which the Mongol Derby hosts live on a map via their website. My name on the map will be listed as GNE, and you can see where exactly I am at all times. For those on social media, I have also created an Instagram account to document the lead-up, race, and post-race journey. Please find all this information linked below.

Tracking Map Link (Not yet showing 2025)

Instagram Link

Thank you!

Thank you for taking the time to read about this upcoming adventure. No donation is too small, and I am grateful for anyone who is wanting to help support my crazy dream to compete. If you are unable to donate, but still want to help, please feel free to share this donation link to others to help spread the word. I look forward to reporting back after the race, hopefully in one piece and with many stories to share!