South Okanagan horse trainer fundraising to compete in 'longest and toughest horse race'

Castanet.net - Full Article and video

Casey Richardson - Dec 11, 2025

A South Okanagan equestrian instructor and horse trainer is preparing to participate in the Mongol Derby, a 1,000-kilometre race across Mongolia where riders emulate the messenger system of Genghis Khan.

Michelle Van Baalen began riding horses at the age of five, progressing from hunter-jumper riding to Pony Club, 3-day eventing, western riding, packing, and cowgirl racing.

She won the 2022 and 2024 BC endurance races (Heather Bradshaw Memorial Race) and went on to chase feral horses in Canada.

Now well into her career, Van Baalen is setting her sights on her next feat — taking on the “longest and toughest horse race in the world” in 2027.

“I first saw [the Derby] on Facebook, I thought to myself, ‘Oh, man, wouldn't that be a life experience?’” she said.

“To have a different style of horsemanship, be coached in that and then be set loose in the wilderness to fend for myself with nothing but my own skills, appeals to me...”

Read more and see video here:
https://www.castanet.net/news/Penticton/588805/South-Okanagan-horse-trainer-fundraising-to-compete-in-longest-and-toughest-horse-race-