Wyoming Women to Ride The Mongol Derby

cowboy state daily

Today, the Mongol Derby holds the record for the longest multi-horse race in the world. Participants ride “semi-wild” Mongolian horses between 25 stations along the 620-mile route, switching horses at each station.

“It’s a little bit about horsemanship and a little bit about your endurance,” [contestant Dede] Anders said. “It’s not a marked route. You GPS your way across there. So, you can miss a checkpoint and get lost. If you’re in between stations and the time to ride is up, you just camp wherever you are. That’s where the racing part comes in.”

Riders can only ride up to 11 hours daily. They can be penalized if they’ve driven their horses too hard. Medics and equine vets are waiting at each station, along with food and water for the riders and their horses.

The Mongol Derby is notoriously treacherous, and riders have gotten lost and injured during the race, sometimes to the point that they can’t continue. Simply finishing the derby is worth celebrating. More