Lucy Joel's 2023 Mongol Derby Ride

In August of 2023, I will be riding in the Mongol Derby, the longest and toughest horse race in the world. The course covers 1000 km/ 600 mi across the Mongolian Steppe and recreates the horse messenger system that Ghengis Khan used to establish and maintain the Mongol Empire in the 13th century.

I've covered all of my own entry and training costs, and am fundraising on behalf of Steppe and Hoof, the official charity of the Derby.

Who are Steppe and Hoof?

Mission statement

Steppe and Hoof is a non-profit organization which has been set up to help herders and their animals in Mongolia. From a total population of 3.2 million Mongolian people, only about 169,000 nomadic families remain today.

Climate change and urbanization are contributing to the rapid disappearance of one of the world's last traditional nomadic life styles. Mongolian herders are unique in that they depend solely on their animal herds for their existence. Our goal is to try to save the unique traditions that are part of the Mongolian nomadic lifestyle. We are doing this by giving herders the modern tools and knowledge they need to keep their livestock healthy and productive. Even more importantly, we are trying to reverse the migration of herders into cities by re-establishing these families in the countryside with their necessary livestock.

Mongolian herders are extremely self sufficient people and only need a little modern help from us to put them back on track to their traditional way of life they have lived for a millennium.

What is the Derby?

See the website

The Mongol Derby is the longest and toughest horse race in the world. A decade after launching the race that title is still being backed up by riders year after year.

In 1224 man of the millennium Chinggis Khaan set up the world’s first long-distance postal transmission system. Using a massive network of horse stations – ‘morin urtuus’ in Mongolian – his hardy messengers could gallop from Kharkhorin to the Caspian sea in a number of days.

For ten days each August, the Mongol Derby recreates this legendary system, building a network of urtuus at 35km intervals along the entire thousand kilometre course.

Riders have to navigate the course themselves, on horses that are often stubborn, spirited and difficult to control. Riding hours are between 7am and 7pm, with the option to spend down hours either at one of the horse stations, or camping out on the steppe with your horse, some hobbles, and the contents of your saddle bag.

Why Compete in it?

I've loved the Mongolian landscape, culture and horses since I first visited at 19, and as someone that loves riding and loves a challenge I've wanted to compete in the Derby since I first found out about it. 2023 was the first year that funds, work and the pandemic made it all possible.

I'm hoping to gain a greater insight into this fascinating equine culture, and push myself out of my comfort zone. I've not ridden regularly since I was a teenager and this has been a great way to get me back in the saddle. I try and live my life in a way that would make little Lucy proud of me, and the girl in the picture above (who is wildly in love with Jessie, her first pony), would probably think this is the coolest thing ever.