Journey to the Mongol Derby: The Longest and Toughest Horse Race in the World

ThePlaidHorse.com - Full Article

April 28, 2022
BY BIANCA FARMAS-GRIFFITH

Part One: Mongolian Horses & Mongol Derby 101

In Fall 2018 and on the cusp of turning 30, I woke up one day with an intense desire and determination to participate in a race that I had long known about, but previously wanted nothing to do with. In December 2018, two months after submitting my application and completing my interview, I was accepted to participate in the 2020 Mongol Derby.

The Mongol Derby is a self-navigated, point-to-point endurance race based on Chinggis Khaan’s ancient Mongolian postal system from 1224. Using strong and resilient riders and horses, Khaan’s vast network of horse stations across his empire made it possible for important messages to travel around 2,500 miles in just a few days. In 2009, The Equestrianists, a group striving to change peoples’ perspectives and “make the world less boring”, recreated this postal system, and thus began the annual Mongol Derby.

Every Summer, a group of ~40 brave riders take on the challenge of a lifetime: riding 1,000 km (roughly 620 miles) across the Mongolian Steppe in 10-days, with stops every ~25 miles to check in and change horses. Riding time each day averages around 12 hours, with strict start and stop times to ensure rider and equine safety. The route (which changes every year), pace, and adventure in between these stops are up to the rider. Sounds fun! What’s the catch?...

Read more here:
https://www.theplaidhorse.com/2022/04/28/journey-to-the-mongol-derby-the-longest-and-toughest-horse-race-in-the-world/

Four UAE Riders, Trainers Suspended in Doping Case

Inside.FEI.org

FEI Tribunal issues Consent Awards in equine anti-doping case

19 April 2022
Author: FEI

The FEI Tribunal has issued Consent Awards in an equine anti-doping case involving a Banned Substance.

In this case, the horse Basc Trio (FEI ID 106QW17/UAE), tested positive for the Banned Substance 5α-estrone-3β, 17α-diol (metabolite of Nandrolone), following samples taken at the CEI1*100 Dubai (UAE), 7-14 November 2021.

The athlete, Abdul Aziz Salah Abdulla Ameen (FEI ID 10063337/UAE) and the trainer, Amr Mohd Atris El Sayed (FEI ID 10054579/UAE), admitted the rule violation and accepted the consequences. In its final decisions, the FEI Tribunal disqualified the horse and athlete combination from the event and imposed an 18-month ineligibility period on the athlete and on the trainer; the provisional suspension each has already served shall be credited against the imposed ineligibility period. The athlete and trainer were also each fined CHF 5,000.

The Consent Awards are available here.



Separately, the FEI has announced a new adverse analytical finding (AAF) involving an equine prohibited substance. The case involves *Banned Substance under the FEI’s Equine Anti-Doping and Controlled Medication Regulations (EADCMRs).

In the following Endurance case, the athlete and the trainer have been provisionally suspended until the FEI Tribunal renders its decisions. The horse has been provisionally suspended for two months from the date of notification.

Case 2022/BS04:

Horse: Dactyle D’Aqui (106XH16/UAE)

Person Responsible: Muhammad Ali Fazal Amin (10103705/PAK (UAE)

Trainer: Ahmed Ali Salman Hassan Al Sabri (10041041/UAE)

Event: CEI2*120 – Bou Thib (UAE), 24-25.12.2021

Prohibited Substance(s): Testosterone

Date of notification: 8 March 2022

Details on these case can be found here.

More at:
https://inside.fei.org/media-updates/fei-tribunal-issues-consent-awards-equine-anti-doping-case-0

Pam Karner’s Gaucho Derby Adventure

EnduranceIntrospection.com - Full Story

April 6 2022
by Patti Steadman

Note from Patti:

Anyone who knows my friend Pam Karner knows that she is a force of nature. She is a veterinarian and a Ride Manager and an endurance rider, and beyond that she is unfiltered and generous and hilarious and just a wee bit unhinged. [I say that unapologetically both about her and to her, for the record.]

In every image I have of Pam, we are laughing.

In 2018, she finished the Mongol Derby, a feat that would be epic for someone half her age.

If anyone saw the video circulating around Facebook after this year’s successful Gaucho Derby, she said the reason she did it was because she didn’t want to shrink.

She sent me these videos and her story a couple of weeks ago and I asked if I could share it on my blog; I don’t think Pam has any clue what an enormous fan club she has. Like most remarkable women.

Pam is an inspiration, and to say she isn’t shrinking at 68 would be just a wee bit of an understatement.

Go, Pam, go!

–Patti

Edited to add: Pam shared this podcast with me to share with all of you. Stevie Delahunt’s interview: https://www.warwickschiller.com/podcast/ (And yes, Pam gets a mention as well!)

****

MY PATAGONIA STORY

March 2022

“THE GAUCHO DERBY’

My dear friends, this is a bit long so please don’t feel obligated to read it. I just couldn’t figure out what to cut!

What a group of diverse, interesting, exciting, fun party animals! We met in El Calafate and the party was in full swing immediately.

Things quieted down a few days later as we drove eight hours north to who-knows-where over many dirt roads to arrive at “Start Camp”. Seven hexagonal domes that, despite being pinned to the ground, refused to stay put thanks to the challenging Patagonia wind. The doors were the first to go! Each dome created ways to keep their doors on. I was lucky to have two engineers in mine!...

Read more here:
http://enduranceintrospection.com/wp/pam-karners-gaucho-derby-adventure/

New Zealand: Ruahine Endurance Club to host national championships

Stuff.co.nz - Full Article

Manawatū reporter
16:08, Apr 05 2022

Horse riders will be competing through the night at Āpiti Domain at the upcoming Endurance National Championships.

Ruahine Endurance Club is hosting the event over Easter, with a range of class competitions over three days, from an epic 160-kilometre championship level challenge to a 6km lead rein kids’ class.

The pinnacle 160km race will start at 1am on Good Friday.

It consists of six loops with vet checks; a horse will be eliminated if it does not pass a multitude of parameters. There would be a 40-minute rest period before starting each loop...

Read more here:
https://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/news/300553274/ruahine-endurance-club-to-host-national-championships

Australia: Forest fix delivers good news for endurance riders

NoosaToday.com.au - Full Article

04/04/2022
By Erle Levey

Easter at Stirling’s Crossing Endurance Ride is proceeding with confidence.

This follows concern that the trails, especially the forestry tracks, had been washed out during the recent extreme rain event.

Stirlings Crossing Endurance Club president Kim Moir said that meetings with HQPlantations were very positive.

“They must be complimented for their willingness to work with us to allow an Easter event to happen at Imbil,’’ Kim said.

“It was evident that some terrible damage had occurred and they have shown great commitment to make things happen.

“The repairs are reflective of their business but they have also thought about us and the impact Easter at Stirlings has on the Imbil community.

“A great many people come into the town at Easter and the endurance ride has been happening in one form or other for the past 20 years.

“Before that it was held at Kenilworth so there is a long and proud history there.’’

There will be 12 endurance events over three days.

About 300 riders and supporters from throughout Queensland and northern New South Wales are expected to attend at the Stirlings Crossing Endurance Centre from April 15-17...

Read more here:
https://noosatoday.com.au/news/04-04-2022/forest-fix-delivers-good-news-for-endurance-riders/