Thu, 08/01/2024
Victoria O’Brien
Dede Anders thought she had more time. After a lengthy interview process, Anders was selected to run in the Mongolian Derby, the world’s longest and toughest endurance horse race, in 2025. But after another rider’s injury, Anders was called up to the 2024 competition a little over a month ago, upending her original plans. In a little more than a week’s time, she will be competing halfway across the world against 49 other riders from around the globe in the world’s toughest endurance race.
The Mongol derby follows what historians have called the empire’s nerve system: the horse messenger system created by Ghengis Khan that once connected over half of the world. Riding semi-wild Mongolian horses, competitors are armed with only their packs, GPS and backup, and must ride for 11 hours a day for nine days straight as they navigate 620 miles of the rugged Mongolian steppe. Adding to the grueling demands of the competition is a final wrinkle: riders must swap their mounts every 25-miles at check-in stations where the horses will be vetted and checked over — riders who deliver their horse in poor condition will receive penalties — and competitors will receive food, aid and water...
Read more here:
https://www.basinrepublican-rustler.com/content/greybull-native-ride-620-mile-mongolian-derby-world%E2%80%99s-toughest-horse-race#
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