VashonBeachComber.com - Full Article
The derby will take riders through the stunning landscapes of Patagonia.
By Aspen Anderson For The Beachcomber • October 9, 2024
Ashleigh Rauen, a seasoned equestrian and long time islander, is set to embark February 2026 on one of the most grueling horse races in the world: the Gaucho Derby in Patagonia, Argentina.
“Am I really gonna do this?” she said with a laugh.
The Gaucho Derby is a 500-kilometer endurance race through the wilderness of Patagonia, a mountainous land of fjords, rainforests, glaciers, deserts and steppes in the southern side of South America, where riders must navigate their way on horseback with the help of topographical maps and a GPS.
Participants are allowed only 20 pounds of gear and must camp along the way with limited supplies, swapping horses multiple times throughout the race which are selected via a randomized “hat draw.”
Riders fly to Argentina and then take a 10-hour bus ride to the race’s starting point near El Calafate, toward the southern end of the country. The course ends with the iconic Mount Fitz Roy in the background.
Hundreds of riders apply to race, but only about 10% of applicants are accepted.
Rauen, who specializes in three-day eventing, will face an entirely new set of challenges when the race starts in February...
Read more here:
https://www.vashonbeachcomber.com/news/island-equestrian-selected-for-2026-gaucho-derby-in-south-america/
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