2013 Mongol Derby RACE REPORT: Day 1

Left to right: Katie Vincent, Tamara Huddleston and Lydia Wood enjoy the first leg of the Mongol Derby, 4th August 2013
Mongolderbyblog - Full Article

Sunday August 4 2013
A round up of the first day of the world’s toughest horse race.

HEADLINES:
• 21 year old Texan Devan Horne the only rider to reach Horse Station 3, finishing Day 1 a full leg ahead of the chasing pack
• 25 out of 30 riders make it to Horse Station 2
• First day remarkably uneventful – no serious injuries or major falls; a huge change from last year’s race start when two riders retired through injury on Day 1
• Matthias Lochthofen from Germany passes out on the start line but bounces back and starts the Derby just one hour later
• 23 year old American Tom Burk suffers wrestling injury at launch party but bravely battles on to reach Horse Station 2
• The weather ranges from incredibly hot and clear to a rainstorm and plummeting temperatures by early evening

Full Day's Report!:
http://mongolderbyblog.theadventurists.com/2013/08/04/race-report-day-1-sunday-4th-august/

Extreme Ride: The Mongol Derby

Magazine.fourseasons.com - Full Article

Jul 24, 2013
By: Michaela McGuire

“Only you know exactly how far you can push yourself,” says Erik Cooper, a 29-year-old New York–based bartender and furniture designer. He’s talking specifically about the Mongol Derby, the longest, most extreme horse race in the world, where last year he spent nine days racing semi-wild horses across the desert. Cooper was one of 30 or so riders from every corner of the globe that gather each August in rural Mongolia to compete in the derby, raising money for charity.

The Mongol Derby was initiated in 2009, organized by a company called The Adventurists, which offers extreme adventure experiences for the jaded, the driven and the curious. The riders who assemble at the derby’s starting line each year have one thing in common: Until that moment, they have harboured a dormant desire to prove themselves in a battle not only against each other and against nature, but against themselves. Riders have to be physically fit before embarking on the ride, but mental strength is equally paramount. “The ride does seem endless,” says Richard Allen, a writer, musician and horse trainer from Hertfordshire, England, who at 51 was one of the older competitors in the 2011 race. “You get up at dawn and get on a horse that could kill you, and you carry on doing that until it gets dark. Then you get up the next day and do it again...”

Read more here:
http://magazine.fourseasons.com/travel-food-style/things-to-do/experiences/horse-racing-in-mongolia

Australia: Tough Ride

Colliemail.com.au - Full Article

July 31, 2013, 10 p.m.

ABOUT 100 horses and their riders took part in the Collie Classic Endurance Ride on Saturday morning.

The ride started and finished at the Collie Race Track and travelled over cross country courses that included bush tracks and firebreaks through the picturesque Collie country side.

The event covered distances from 15 kilometres for beginners and social riders to 100km for the experienced.

The Collie Classic is a horse race with a difference, where completion is more important than speed and friendship more important that competition.

Deb Ryan, riding Forest Dew Charisma won the Collie-Preston MLA Mick Murray Trophy for best performance by a local horse and rider...

Read more here:
http://www.colliemail.com.au/story/1675496/tough-ride/?cs=2073

Action Hero, Devan Horn, attempts the Toughest Horse Race on Earth, the Mongol Derby

Horsereporter.com - Full Article

July 31, 2013
By Pamela@horsereporter

July 30, 2013, Texas ~ It has been said that there are no new ideas. Genghis Khan is credited with the first messenger system or Yam, using tough Mongolian horses. In the days before the internet, this was done by exchanging new ponies at relay stations (known as Ger) every 25 miles (40 km). Six centuries later, starting in the early 1800’s, the USA used this idea and called it the Pony Express.

On August 4, Devan Horn, a 20-year-old senior Criminal Justice major at Sam Houston State, will compete in what is known as the toughest horse race on earth, the 650 mile (1,000km), race across Mongolia, wherein each racer gets a new pony every 25 miles, and using a map and a GPS, endeavors to reach the finish line first. There is no set race route, no spectators, and no help allowed outside of other Derby contestants...

Read more here:
http://www.horsereporter.com/?p=7548

FEI Round Table Session Plan To Bolster Endurance

Horsereporter.com - Full Article

July 31, 2013
By Pamela@horsereporter

July 30, Lausanne ~ The July 24, 2013 round table session on the sport of Endurance, held at FEI Headquarters in Lausanne (SUI), ended with unanimous approval by attendees and full support for the strategy mapped out for the discipline by the FEI.

The 22 delegates – which included representatives from Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates, the European Equestrian Federation, the FEI Endurance Committee and FEI Headquarters – agreed that, globally, all efforts will be made to reduce the numbers of horses testing positive for prohibited substances and suffering injuries.

Following open discussion involving all parties, and agreement that the current rules – when fully implemented – already serve the sport well, the group recommended a plan of action for the FEI Bureau to consider, which includes:

Read more here:
http://www.horsereporter.com/?p=7560

2013 Mongol Derby: Participants have Arrived in Ulaanbaatar

http://www.endurance.net/international/Mongolia/2013MongolDerby/

July 31 2013

Participants for the 2013 1000-km Mongol Derby have arrived in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, and will begin their race training August 1-3. The race begins August 4th across the Mongolian Steppe, and will last approximately 10 days.

USA Rider Devan Horn has posted updates from Ulaanbaatar:

July 31:
Mongol Day 2: Naran Tul and Bus Rides!

My second and last free day in the capitol started with a trip to Naran Tul, the local black market. This market is so large, it regularly hosts 60k people and sells everything you could possibly imagine. I spent hours there, occasionally meeting up with a couple of riders, and promptly getting lost in the rows of stalls. In the afternoon, I amused myself with more walking of the city, and riding the different busses. Bus fair is about 10 cents American, and a great way to learn and meet people. This evening, about ten of us met for drinks at the Ramada’s bar. The first day of Derby Training starts tomorrow! I find Ulaan Bator fascinating and exciting…but I am more than ready to start riding!!!

July 30
Day 1: The flight and the capitol!

My flight from Houston to Beijing was awesome, mostly because I got 3 seats in a row empty, so I shamelessly slept the whole way. I got held up in the Beijing Airport because I had to wait for the ticketing office to open, and then because security wanted to check my entire derby kit piece by piece (I assume to make sure I didn’t forget anything!). I could write a novel about Ulaanbator. Think 80’s industrial city, surrounded by a slum where every other house is actually a felt tent! Horses, cows, dogs, and birds weave through traffic and people even in the city’s heart. The dogs are smart-they look both ways before crossing the street and know that I am soft hearted/carrying beef jerky. I don’t think there are any traffic laws here at all. I hiked for about 4 hours today exploring the city and people watching. The food pretty much sucks-I’m going to have to stop sharing my jerky with the feral dogs!

July 28
Well, I'm sitting in the Houston Airport, about to say goodbye to US soil for the 3rd time this year. My parents and Scott drove me to the airport and turned me loose. I raised a little hell trying to get packed today-may or may not have committing a 3rd degree felony. I guess its a good thing I'm going to Mongolia! Great way to start my trip! I'm so freaking excited!!!

For updates on the Mongol Derby, see
http://www.endurance.net/international/Mongolia/2013MongolDerby/

New Zealand: High Performance Appointments

NZEquestrian.org.nz

22/07/2013 1:46:56 p.m.
Equestrian Sports New Zealand (ESNZ) announces the appointment of the following High Performance personnel effective immediately for a period to the end of December 2014:


Endurance - High Performance/WEG Chef d’Equipe – Tony Parsons
Tony Parsons brings a wealth of elite Endurance knowledge and experience to this role which will see him lead the campaign for the selected Endurance Team NZ rider/horse combinations that will compete at the 2014 FEI World Equestrian Games, enabling Team NZ to meet its performance targets and compete to the best of its ability. Tony will also become a member of the Endurance HP Panel. Tony, also ESNZ’s Veterinary General, has excellent experience at international Endurance events including as Olympic and WEG Team Vet for both Endurance and Eventing in the past.

Endurance - High Performance/WEG Vet – Nick Page
Nick Page has been successful in being reappointed to this role, which he has held since 2010. Nick is responsible for providing equine health leadership to the ESNZ Endurance HP Programme, squads and team members which will enable Team NZ to perform to their peak during training and at international competition including the 2014 World Equestrian Games in Normandy, France.

Nick sits as a member of Endurance HP Panel and has significant experience of elite Endurance through his equine clinical veterinary background, previous international team experience and frequent role as head of the veterinary commission at FEI rides in NZ.


Jumping – High Performance/WEG Chef d’Equipe – John Cottle
John Cottle has been appointed as the WEG Chef d’Equipe for Jumping and will lead the campaign for the selected Team NZ Jumping rider/horse combinations that will compete at the 2014 World Equestrian Games. John has a wealth of experience as a rider, coach and Chef d’Equipe to numerous NZ teams at international event over many years.

John has recently also been appointed by the Jumping Board as the Chef d’Equipe for the trans-Tasman senior and young rider tests in Melbourne in September. John will sit on the new Jumping High Performance Panel and have a direct involvement in the Jumping HP programme as well as the WEG campaign.



Endurance - HP Selectors – Kevin James & Tony Haywood
Kevin and Tony have been reappointed to their roles as the Endurance HP selectors, a position that they have both held for the last two years. The HP Endurance selector’s role is to effectively select Endurance HP Squads and Endurance HP Teams for international competitions (including WEG 2014).