Great Britain: Iconic equestrian event set to take place in Builth Wells

CountryTimes.co.uk - Full Article

7th September 2025
By Josh Price

A historic equestrian event is set to take place in Builth Wells.

The British Horse Feeds Dragon Festival of Endurance, a staple on the endurance riding calendar since 1977, is preparing for its annual event.

Held on the last weekend of September, the festival will take place in the picturesque surroundings of Builth Wells, Mid Wales, beginning at the Royal Welsh Showground.

This venue, renowned for its excellent facilities, is a favourite among riders, providing stabling for horses and a host of amenities for riders and their support teams.

The festival, affectionately known as the Red Dragon, is considered one of the UK's iconic endurance rides...

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https://www.countytimes.co.uk/news/25444066.iconic-equestrian-event-set-take-place-builth-wells/

This is what it’s like to win the ‘world’s toughest horse race’ through Mongolia

Michael Pollard was one of the four winners of the 2025 Mongol Derby (Kathy Gabriel)

Ca.News.yahoo.com - Full Article

Annabel Grossman
Fri, August 22, 2025

When riding across the Mongolian steppe, one mistake can mean game over. This mistake can be anything, from losing a piece of kit to your horse stumbling in a marmot hole while navigating the vast stretches of open landscape.

The wilds of Mongolia are beautiful but unforgiving, as 45 riders discovered earlier this month when they competed in the “world’s toughest horse race”.

The Mongol Derby is not for the faint-hearted, with riders crossing 1,000km (620 miles) of rugged terrain on semi-wild horses, relying on their survival skills, horsemanship and pure grit to reach the finish line.

Out here on the steppe (the wide open plains that characterise this land), the competitors live among local herders, often staying in ger, traditional Mongolian tents, with families. The riders change their mounts every 20 miles at morin urtuu (horse stations) and must deliver the animals in good health at every stage.

Throughout the race (this year, competitors took between eight and 10 days to complete the course), riders found themselves cantering through wide-open valleys, navigating mountain passes, crossing rushing rivers, and traversing rolling dunes.

Speaking to The Independent two days into the race, competitor Anna Boden described the toll this takes on the body and the level of endurance needed.

“Physically, it’s significantly harder than anything I’ve ever done before,” she said. “You’re riding 12-hour days, and because you have a fresh horse each leg, you can ride quite fast – that is really tough on your body...”

Read more here:
https://ca.news.yahoo.com/win-world-toughest-horse-race-103011641.html

Great Britain: Success Stories from the International Thetford Endurance Rides

August 16 2025

Thetford Endurance was held for the first time under new organisers Anna Bridges and Lauren Hirst, showcasing a CEI3 160km, CEI3 140km, and the National 160km, attended by riders from the UK and around the world.

Here are some of the success stories from the weekend.

Barnsley Rider Triumphs in Epic 100-Mile Endurance Challenge After 39-Year Wait

Surrey’s Alice Ingram Completes 160km International Endurance Race – Just 6 Months After Giving Birth

British riders shine at Thetford Endurance 2025

Lancashire Rider Shines with 2nd Place in International Endurance Race

Emma achieves lifelong goal in endurance ride

HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad wins Rushford Endurance 120 km race in UK

BNA.bh - Full Article

17 Aug 2025

London, Aug. 17 (BNA): His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Representative of His Majesty the King for Humanitarian Work and Youth Affairs and Captain of the Royal Endurance Team, won the Rushford Endurance 120 km race held in the United Kingdom.

The race was attended by His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, First Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports, Chairman of the General Sports Authority, and President of the Bahrain Olympic Committee; and His Highness Shaikh Faisal bin Rashid Al Khalifa, Vice President of the Supreme Council for Environment, Deputy Chairman of the Rashid Equestrian and Horse Racing Club High Committee, and member of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports.

HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad won first place after successfully completing the four stages of the race amid wide participation from riders...

Read more here:
https://www.bna.bh/en/HHShaikhNasserbinHamadwinsRushfordEndurance120kmraceinUK.aspx?cms=q8FmFJgiscL2fwIzON1%2BDm%2BsBglZXQNQWZZLrjCqzo8%3D

Mongol Derby 2025 – Day 10 – Third time lucky

Equestrianists.com - Full Article

Holly Conyers
14th August 2025

Day 10 of the 2025 Mongol Derby has drawn to a close, as our remaining superstar riders made it home after 1,000km of thrills and spills out on the steppe to join the party at finish camp. We couldn’t be more proud of them. These riders have faced extreme physical and mental adversity over the last 10 days, and they’ve come out fighting. What a Derby it’s been, and what a finish they gave us: a decent helping of drama right down to the last.

First to appear on the horizon between the finish line flags this morning was Bianca Farmas-Griffith (BFG). She’d left HS28 this morning with the other 5 riders sharing their last night out on the steppe together. All were mounted up and raring to go at 7AM, but waved goodbye to HS28 with a hint of sadness: this would be their final morning of packing up their sleeping bags and picking their steed...

Read more here:
https://equestrianists.com/updates/mongol-derby-2025-day-10-third-time-lucky/

Mongol Derby 2025 – Day 9 – Homeward bound

Equestrianists.com - Full Article

Holly Conyers
12th August 2025

While the battle for first place in the 2025 Mongol Derby may have been decided yesterday, Day 9 saw a whopping 19 more of our intrepid riders make it home to finish camp to complete the adventure of a lifetime. While 13 of those riders were still riding for a competitive placing, we were mighty proud to welcome 6 of our Adventure Class riders across the line too. Some were even reunited with family and friends for whom following along at home wasn’t enough. There were tears, there was signing, there were bear hugs and emotional reunions. Welcome home, legends. Time to party...

Read more here:
https://equestrianists.com/updates/mongol-derby-2025-day-9-homeward-bound/

Mongol Derby 2025 – Day 8 – Better together

Equestrianists.com - Full Article

Holly Conyers
11th August 2025

Eight days after thundering across the 2025 Mongol Derby start line, four exceptional equestrianists have come full circle to boomerang back to finish camp. Having fought tooth and nail for the crown over the last 1,000km of high speed chasing across the steppe, they eventually elected to prioritise camaraderie over competition and crossed the line together. Behold, our 2025 Mongol Derby Joint Champions: Brit Anna Boden (ABO), American Michael Pollard (MPO) and brothers in arms from the UAE Eisa Al Khayari (EAK) and Khalifa Al Hamed (KAH). An extraordinary end to an even more extraordinary Derby. Congratulations are in order, as they celebrate at start camp tonight with a long-awaited shower, some clean clothes and a cold beer. Cheers to you, champs...

Read more here:
https://equestrianists.com/updates/mongol-derby-2025-day-8-better-together/