Mongol Derby blog: training to ride 1,000km across Mongolia

I'm with Megan here, there is nothing wrong with expecting the same saddle to fit every single pony well enough to be sure that no pressure points or girth galls will occur during the ride. They are all being ridden in treeless saddles, if in doubt please read the following
http://www.yourhorse.co.uk/Your-Horse-Ne...&R=EPI-2293

Anyway, 27% of its body weight is not going to cause any suffering to the wee ponies. They're as tough as my Connemara ones and they have no sheep or bogs to contend with so they'll be grand!
 
http://connemaraderby.blogspot.com/

I needed cheering up this week, so thanks, and I'm your first follower
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As for the other race, not sure what I think at the moment. I'm sure there's been a lot of made up hype to make it look as exciting and dangerous as possible, and I think now there's all the attention re horse welfare that this will hopefully be taken seriously.
 
I agree with Native here - You have to take that whole website with comments such as "you could die", a little tongue in cheek. The whole website has that tone to it.
 
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Congratulations! Now THAT is truly the baddest equine affair!

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What is? They're talking about the people taking part, not the horses.

Common sense tells you they'll suffer? I think that is hugely naive. Like I've said, do you honestly believe that such a huge profile event would be allowed to go ahead without the appropriate level of supervision and restriction? Just because it's not in the UK doesn't automatically mean that it won't be run properly.
 
Yes, it is hugely naive, these are wild native ponies, not pampered horses and so they can carry any weight, even 27% of their own at speed, in heat over 40kms! And how dare you all assume that the riders are all in it for show, they are RAISING MONEY FOR A WORTHY CHARITY!

This is most unlike one rider I know who rode a long distance solo, distributed medicines, wormed animals, educated villagers and did all of this from her own pocket without an inch of press coverage. Instead she gave a couple hundred of her own meagre pocket to a charity and encouraged others to do likewise. She was such a coward that she even had to cut her ride short due to "severe physical injury" to herself. Pah! These Derby riders are true heros, raising money for charity by paying thousands of pounds to take part in a race rather than donating it direct! Good on them!
 
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Yes, it is hugely naive, these are wild native ponies, not pampered horses and so they can carry any weight, even 27% of their own at speed, in heat over 40kms! And how dare you all assume that the riders are all in it for show, they are RAISING MONEY FOR A WORTHY CHARITY!

This is most unlike one rider I know who rode a long distance solo, distributed medicines, wormed animals, educated villagers and did all of this from her own pocket without an inch of press coverage. Instead she gave a couple hundred of her own meagre pocket to a charity and encouraged others to do likewise. She was such a coward that she even had to cut her ride short due to "severe physical injury" to herself. Pah! These Derby riders are true heros, raising money for charity by paying thousands of pounds to take part in a race rather than donating it direct! Good on them!

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Couldn't have said it better myself
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I also made the point about some of you making personal judgements on these people and suggesting that they are all rich and spoilt.... This could not be further from the truth and I'm quite shocked that some of you are quite happy to assume these things.
 
Just to clarify the rich and bored references were not mine but I did post the comments that contained them - understanding the jaded perception of westerners.

That said, a human who wishes to challenge themselves has every right to do so but a compromised rider compromises their horse. This is a very real possibility so for me the risks underpin a need and right for anybody to question this race.
 
I am quite shocked that Horse and Hound have not yet gotten back to me on covering my illustrious blog. At least I know that I have kindred spirits who understand that forcing a wild pony to carry 95kg with a treeless saddle is both humane and fair!
 
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Pah! These Derby riders are true heros, raising money for charity by paying thousands of pounds to take part in a race rather than donating it direct! Good on them!

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Couldn't have said it better myself
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I think you might have missed a hint of sarcasm, Megan_T.
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ConnamaraDerby, take care on your adventure, maybe there'll be an action shot of you sheep dodging on H & Hs front cover!
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Megan T
With respect, that is not what I said.

However, the organizers website warns of the dangers.
Dehydration, heat stroke, wolves, unmarked route etc. You may or may not have seen programmes about extreme adventures where even the fittest people can and do succumb to illness and injury, however well prepared.

I am also not sure why you are worried about being “slayed” for calling it a "race".

Quote from the official web site
“As a rider you will have to navigate your way from one Urtuu to the next single-handedly; there's no marked course and there will be huge stretches with no paths or tracks at all. In fact even when there are tracks there is little chance they will be going in the right direction. You will be facing the wilderness, alone, on the longest, toughest horse race in the world.”

I do not doubt that your brothers girlfriend and the other riders have taken up this challenge with the best intentions - I am just far from convinced the organizers have.
 
Flame - Oh yes, I have just re-read it! Lol
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Voices - Sorry, I must have misunderstood. I was just referring to your "compromised riders means compromised horses".

I'm sure that the riders (including my brothers girlfriend!) may very well not really know what they're letting themselves in for, but I know, with no doubt at all, that they will put the welfare of the horses before anything else.

I just wonder whether the people (organizers?) writing this information on the website are a) telling the truth and b) just hyping it up an awful lot for the benefit (or not?) of people reading it sat at home in their comfy chairs.

My comment about being slayed for calling it a "race" was in reference to the first few posts here. It seems that a lot of HHO's are worried that the horses are going to be run flat out, constantly in order to "win" when, as far as I'm concerned, it's a charity 'event'.

It's just that I don't appreciate the comments made by some that all the people taking part are simply rich, spoilt, un-horsey "yobs" - when I can confirm that this is not the case!
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Dear Long Riders, Explorers and Friends of the Guild,

The Long Riders' Guild was initially contacted by Tom Morgan's company, the Adventurists, on 28th November, 2008 in regards to his plan to run a 1,000 kilometer horse race across Mongolia. Not only did the Guild offer the equestrian expertise of its Members, as well as the hand of friendship, our organization also warned the company that the poorly-planned event would become a lightning-rod of concern. The Adventurists did not accept the Guild's offers of assistance, nor heed our warning.

Since then, as predicted, the proposed race has created an equestrian fire-storm of protest, with editors, endurance racers, Long Riders and even mainstream explorers, all joining their voices in an unprecedented condemnation of this dubious event. Thousands of acts of individual equestrian patriotism have resulted in horse-lovers from twenty-six countries signing the petition protesting against the race, a Vet Net advisor denouncing it as being "in total disregard to the welfare of the horses," and the Barefoot saddle company withdrawing its support.

Regardless, Morgan's American charity partner, Mercy Corps not only maintains their partnership, they continue to ignore their own statement sent to irate donors who have withdrawn their financial contributions. "...if at any point Mercy Corps is not satisfied with the measures in place to ensure their (horses) welfare, we would not continue to support this trek," Mercy Corps spokeswoman, Geri Manzano said.

What needs to be fully understood is that we are not discussing common tourists.
Traditional travellers go to a country in order to interact with the people, sample the food and experience the culture. This is an experience that is customarily a slow learning process. That is not what Morgan and his race contestants are doing. They will use every possible means to rush through Mongolia, highlight any danger, mock the cuisine, and make themselves look like heroes at the expense of the land, its people and its horses.

Nor should we be persuaded that Morgan and Mercy Corps, are motivated by altruistic motives. The Adventurists will receive more than $130,000 in fees from the contestants. Likewise, the Mercy Corps charity will receive a minimum of $50,000. But when asked how much the herders, who are risking their eight hundred horses, would be getting, the evasive answer was "a fair amount." In a scene reminiscent of buying Manhattan from the Indians for $26 in beads, while Morgan and Mercy Corps get rich, naïve Mongolians are being enticed into selling their sacred equestrian heritage for pennies.

Thus, no amount of last-minute window-dressing by the Adventurists and Mercy Corps can disguise the fact that this is an act of equestrian colonialism perpetrated by cultural predators. This race represents a new type of equestrian cancer, one in which arrogance, wealth, racism and social privilege come together for a mounted holiday in an exotic land.

Meanwhile, the world's scorn for Morgan's master plan can be seen in some of the comments submitted to the international petition.

Jack, Canada: All horse-related activities in Mongolia will be damaged by this stunt. Why doesn't he stick to filling Mongolia with Europe's old clunkers instead?
Anne, Wales: Very glad to help stop this terror.
Stan, USA: This is brutal and uncalled-for.
Robert, Gibraltar: If 25 idiots want to cross Mongolia, then take a 4x4 truck; why is it that there are still people who think that animals have no purpose but to provide entertainment for them no matter what?
Abdul, Sweden: Shame on the culprits and those who refuse to act.
Gabrielle, Belgium: Adventure should never prevail over animal welfare and long-distance riding should not be turned into a contest built upon injury and loss of life.
Jean, UK: Utterly ghastly. How can people be so thoughtless and cruel?
Thomas, USA: Money ruins everything.
Carol, Canada: I feel very strongly about getting this profit-mongering idiot's activities exposed and stopped.
Alison, Scotland: This event is a disgrace to 21st century equine sport.
Neale, Australia: Cruelty such as this should be illegal.
Grit, Denmark: What monster has got this arrangement going?
Ranald, South Africa: When money and egos clash with horses, horses always lose.
Raven, USA: This is the most inhumane thing I have ever heard of. Shame on you!
Eduard, Peru: I suggest the humans do it on foot.
Lynne, USA: Sheer lunacy and certainly testosterone-driven; a total violation of man's stewardship of the animals. Let's ride the Adventurists across Mongolia instead.
Dori, USA: Shame on Mercy Corps. I'll make sure never to send them a single penny.
Harry, USA: This race should be outlawed and the promoters cast out of all horse-related projects.
Vera, Romania: Whoever takes part in this event shows a complete disregard for the life of the horses that are used in it; thus forfeiting their right to be called a horse person.
Tami, USA: This is a travesty for the poor innocent horses; there should be some form of international law prohibiting this form of animal cruelty. The contestants get to choose their idiotic level of risk, the poor Mongolian horses do not.
Christine, USA: I am an endurance rider and this race is not "endurance" - it is torture to horses.
Hans-Juergen, Switzerland: This race is nothing but a merchandised killing of friends.
Charlotte, USA: Unbelievable! Have we reverted to the Stone Age?
Odette, USA: As a veterinarian, I am appalled at the greed and cold-heartedness of the organizers and participants of the race.
Diane, Canada: Shame on Tom Morgan for exploiting these wonderful animals.
Katrina, UK: The Mongolian government should stop this event by refusing to grant visas.
Jane, Canada: I'm absolutely disgusted that Mercy Corps would be involved in this.
Janice, USA: When will Europeans stop exploiting Asians?
Talitha, USA: As a veterinarian, I find this race appalling.
Dyane, Australia: Shameful!
Angela, Australia: Unethical!
Serena, Australia: Unbelievable!
Fran, USA: Let the tourists suffer; it's their choice. But the horses deserve protection from these cruel money-hungry fools.
Lois, USA: This sounds like the biggest case of animal cruelty in the world.
Graeme, Scotland: As a veterinarian involved in endurance, I feel this is a blatant disregard for the welfare of the horse.
Jodi, New Zealand: The very thought of this race sickens me.
Michelle, Canada: This race is a disgusting exploitation of a country in poverty, and its animals, by some jerk trying to make a buck.
Stephen, Taiwan: This is an outrageous affair of a company more interested in their cheque-book than common sense.
Naomi, UK: I am ashamed that a British company has organised this ill-conceived and idiotic event to indulge bored, rich exhibitionists.

In conclusion, The Long Riders' Guild urges you to share your concerns with Tom Morgan and Mercy Corps by either emailing or telephoning them with your views.

Antonia Bolingbroke-Kent events manager at the Adventurists
ants@theadventurists.com - + 44-(0)1779-541-515

Geri Manzano - Mercy Corps Donor Relations Representative
+1-800-292-3355, ext. 250 - donorservices@mercycorps.org
 
An Alarming Alliance

Are FEI Endurance Officials and an Arab Sheik supporting the Mongol Derby?

What is believed to be the most potentially damaging equestrian event ever attempted, wherein twenty-five tourists will pay a collective $130,000 to race 800 small horses one thousand kilometers across Mongolia at the height of summer, may be linked to leaders of the FEI and the United Arab Emirates.

The Mongol Derby has been organized by an English tour operator named Tom Morgan, who has previously specialized in enticing foreigners to pay to race junk cars to distant foreign capitals. News that Morgan's company was staging the "biggest, baddest equine affair on the planet," has prompted the world famous equestrian trainer, Linda Tellington-Jones, to condemn the event.

"This abuse of horses must be addressed and stopped by people who love and respect horses. The Mongol Derby could have a negative impact on the endurance world where veterinary care of horses has been a priority for years," Tellington-Jones warned.

These worries are well founded, as Canadian Long Rider Bonnie Folkins has reported from Mongolia that the previous winter was so harsh the nation's horses were left perilously weak. This forced local organizers of the traditional Nadaam horse race to reduce the course by several miles. Though the small animals were only carrying child jockeys under the age of ten, eighteen horses died from exhaustion in the latest race.

For full report please use this link

http://www.voicesforhorses.co.uk/news/read_995_An-Alarming-Alliance--.html
 
I find it awful queer now that people are complaining that them lads out East are lacking water supplies. Sure my problem is an overabundance of the stuff! Rain galls, mud-fever, pulled tendons from soggy ground, slippery ground, sodden bogs, we've it all ahead of us. What do them lot have to worry about but a few wee "flash floods". Well if you ask me, if you can't see a huge flood coming then you're a bit of an eejit and had it coming. I'm sorry now but their "adventuring spirit" just ain't up to scratch if you ask me....

For one thing one of them other riders had the cheek to whinge:
""They're going to give us GPS locations to the wells, where we'll be able to get water, and they don't guarantee that the wells will have water."

I don't see what the fuss is about, the horses hooves'll have a nice bit of time to dry out and get a bit of a crack in the heel. Also I envy this lot in that they shall be able to see this thing that I heard about: if you pinch a fold of loose skin for a bit, there's a story about it not springing right back! Well I wish I could see that.
 
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I think it quite arrogant for people to term any horse race 'tough', as the horses are doing most of the work. It is peoples choice to commit.

This is going to be hard on the horses and they are certainly not viewed by most in Mongolia as pets. I do wonder why such an event has to happen at all.

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We have to take care as that could be seen as a racist attitude. The Mongolians have never done to their land what we have done to ours and exterminated countless species through urbanisation. Their way of life is to be respected and admired; and I hope this girl doing the ride does much to highlight that. This event celebrates the Mongolians horses and we have no right to criticise that; people who live in glass houses and all...the assumption that because the horse is still a work animal not a pet means that makes them somehow not respected is false.
 
If there was anyway I could believe “This event celebrates the Mongolians horses” I would be the first to support it. I have heard nothing to convince me the Mongolian herders or their horses are more than just a means to an end.

This quote sums up my feelings
"It's always been and always will be the same in the world: The horse does the work and the coachman is tipped. " ~Author Unknown
 
This just looks like this Long Riders Guild is trying to piss on some business competitors and using horse welfare to do it. They do have the nest of hysterical middle aged loonie ladies all stirred up though !
 
You are entitled to you opinion but you would be better served if you knew what you were talking about.

You approach just further undermines the credibility of the event and the people behind it.
 
Apologies if I've missed this comment somewhere -it's too late to read it all -but I've met the English vet mentioned - the organisation going into this from the vet side is huge, there are 7 teams of vets and masses and masses of equipment, drugs etc being shipped out- from what he described to me there's way more support than you'd ever see anywhere else - He is very capable and believe me if it wasn't right he wouldn't be doing it!!
He also mentoned that each horse does 40kms and that's it - they go home then. I know what you're saying about weight carried etc and 40kms is a long way - but horses are checked before they start and anything not up to it won't even start.

Apologies 4 poking my nose in but I asked the vet a lot of the things you're discussing and his replies were reassuring
 
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