The Mongol Derby is one of the world’s most prestigious horse racing events. The race is a challenge of covering 1,000 kilometers distance over natural terrain. The event is part of the Mongolian National Games and is considered one of the country’s most important cultural events.
It is recommended to read till the end to learn more exciting information about the Mongol Derby.
Table of Contents
THE MONGOL DERBY AND GENGHIS KHAN
Genghis Khan is known as one of the cruelest rulers of all time, and according to estimates, he has killed more than 40 million people. Due to his ruling in major parts of the world, such as Europe and China. There was a need for quick communication between the army commanders and to inform the leader of new events.
To tackle this issue, Genghis Khan had established multiple stations where horse riders would go and get the letters from there. In other words, he established the world’s first postal system, which is extremely important for ruling such a big empire. This communication system in his era was called “yam,” and today, The Mongol Derby is the recreation of that century-old communication system.
MONGOLIAN HORSES
A UK-based company called THE ADVENTURISTS is the organizer of the company whose mission statement is “to make the world less boring.” Every year people from across the globe participate in this 1,000 km-long trek where the company provides them with 1,500 Mongolian horses for participation in the event. Participants get new horses at each station 40 km from one another, similar to the stations in Genghis Khan‘s era. The herders own these horses, and the company pays them for letting them use these horses in the Mongol Derby.
These horses are relatively shorter but cannot be called ponies as they are stronger with greater endurance. Raiders must be very careful when raiding on them as they are wild and can cause broken bones such as legs, ribs, and wrists.
RULES OF THE EVENT
Similar to other events across the globe, there are rules and regulations which need to be followed when candidates are chosen to participate in The Mongol Derby.
Firstly the company conducts a strict interview where they try to find if the participant is eligible or not; for that purpose, they first want to know if participants have the experience of raiding a horse. Only less than 50 participants are chosen each year when each pays £11,375 for becoming part of the event.
Secondly, it is the participants’ responsibility to arrange accommodation as the company will not be responsible for that.
Thirdly, participants should have sound knowledge of the survival skills and should not weigh more than 85 kgs, including their clothes and another saddle.
Fourth, the participants must not ride at a faster speed or cause harm to the horse in any way because, according to the organizer, it’s more of an adventure than a race. To make sure the horse is in good condition, they are checked by experts at each station; otherwise, the participants are penalized for that.
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WHAT IS THE EVENT LIKE?
Unlike any other event, there is no crowd. The raiders start their adventure together after proper training and familiarization with the event, where they are supposed to cross grassy lands, rivers, and bogs, not to mention mountains. Moreover, the raider has to be expected to be prepared to experience all four seasons in a single day.
All the participants are fortified with necessary tools such as GPS, Maps, and a satellite tracker. When it comes to accommodation, there are no lavish hotels and restaurants where hot water and delicious foods are served; however, they are lodged with local families.
CONCLUSION
The Mongol Derby is an experience that is not to be missed. It is an adventure that will leave riders and spectators with memories that will last a lifetime. If you are looking for a unique and challenging experience, then the Mongol Derby is the event for you.
Sign up today and join the adventure of a lifetime!
Thank you for reading!
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