Take it from the youngest winner of the toughest horse race: "We all have a bold mode"

Salon.com - Full Article

Salon talks to Lara Prior-Palmer about "Rough Magic" and her historic 2013 win of the grueling Mongol Derby

ERIN KEANE
MAY 6, 2019 8:59PM (UTC)

In 2013, Lara Prior-Palmer became the youngest rider and the first woman to win the Mongol Derby, a grueling endurance race across 1,000 kilometers of the Mongolia Steppe. The 10-day cross-country race retrace's Genghis Khan's horse messenger system route from the 13th century. Londoner Prior-Palmer, 19 at the time and a year out of high school with "dead end jobs" and equestrian competitions occupying her time as she waited to hear about applications to work in an orphanage in Ethiopia or an organic farm in Wales, embarked on this adventure not after training for years with dedication and purpose but after coming across the race's website — entry deadline already blown, the fee more than she could afford — and entering, by her own admission, on a whim.

It was going to be either too much, as Prior-Palmer puts it, or nothing at all. Her aunt, the World Champion equestrian Lucinda Greene, tells her matter-of-factly, "I suspect you won't make it past day three, but don't be disappointed..."

Read more here:
https://www.salon.com/2019/05/06/take-it-from-the-youngest-winner-of-the-toughest-horse-race-we-all-have-a-bold-mode/

An Unlikely Victory in an Unforgiving Horse Race

NYTimes.com - Full Article

By John Williams
May 5, 2019

If you like your memoirs to revolve around singular experiences, Lara Prior-Palmer’s “Rough Magic” delivers. In 2013, having recently turned 19, Prior-Palmer decided — on a whim — to enter the Mongol Derby, a rugged long-distance horse race. The competition asks participants to race for several days over 1,000 kilometers of Mongolian grassland, on a series of 25 wild ponies (a new horse every 40 kilometers). It was a “truly peculiar invention,” Prior-Palmer writes. “A Pony Express-style format that mimicked Genghis Khan’s postal system but seemed from afar more like a perfect hodgepodge of Snakes and Ladders and the Tour de France on unknown bicycles.” Prior-Palmer became the youngest person — and first woman — to win the race. Below, she talks about realizing she was writing a book, the reason she’s “inspired by creatures” and more.

When did you first get the idea to write this book?

It was written before it was to be a book, in that I was astounded by what had happened and had the clearest memory afterward, so I wrote everything down on the plane home, just clinging to it...

Read more here:
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/05/books/rough-magic-lara-prior-palmer-mongol-derby-interview.html

Australia: 2019 Mudgee Endurance Ride held on May 11 and 12

MudgeeGuardian.com.au - Full Article

May 26 2019

The long standing Mudgee Endurance Ride is once again being held at Cooyal on May the 11th and 12th.

The ride is a memorial to Ray Gooley who was the club's head veterinarian for 36 years.

Pre-ride vetting takes place from 11am on Saturday with 10 kilometre and 20 kilometre introductory rides starting at 1pm on the day.

The main 80 kilometre ride starts at 5am on Sunday with the 40 kilometre ride at 7:30am.

Presentations are at 4pm with the prize list headed by the Ray Gooley Memorial Trophy for Best Managed Horse.

This year the longest standing member, John King, celebrates 46 years with the Mudgee Endurance Riders Club...

Read more here:
https://www.mudgeeguardian.com.au/story/6107280/endurance-riders-saddle-up-for-the-return-of-a-long-standing-event/?cs=12

South Africa: Gear up for world’s toughest horse race

GoExpress.co.za - Full Article

By Matthew Field - May 2, 2019

The third iteration of Race the Wild Coast (RTWC) – billed as the toughest horse race in the world – will be starting on October 19 and is now open for registration.

The event is limited-access only with and only 20 riders will be allowed to take part.

The 350km ride sees participants travel on horseback from Port Edward to Kei Mouth over a period of four to five days. Each participant will ride three horses over the course of the race, with each horse covering on average of 50km per day.

In addition, there will be 12 scheduled veterinary checks every 29km to ensure the well-being of the horses.

According to race organiser and 2017 Mongol Derby winner Barry Armitage, RTWC is sure to prove a challenge to experienced riders.

“RTWC is a complex multi-stage race in which riders must brave this challenging wilderness and swim rivers while keeping horses fit for vet checks. It is no doubt the ultimate test of endurance and horsemanship for any long-distance rider,” Armitage said...

Read more here:
https://www.goexpress.co.za/2019/05/02/gear-up-for-worlds-toughest-horse-race/

Endurance GB expands Championship series with backing from new Sponsor

EverythingHorseuk.co.uk - Full Article

03/05/2019
ehuknews

Endurance GB’s popular 2019 Championship series is to be expanded this year and sponsored by Rider Fitness & Conditioning Specialists, RiderCise®. The series, which includes the Southern and Northern Championships is this year joined by a third event, a new Welsh Championship to be held at Pen Ddol Y Gader, Carmarthenshire (31st Aug-1st Sept).

This year’s RiderCise Southern Championship takes place at Three Rivers on Saturday 15th June, while the RiderCise Northern Championships are being held at the Cumbria Challenge Ride on Sunday 15th August.

All three Championships are open to Advanced and Open horses and take place over contrasting landscapes, each comprising an 80k CER or GER with the winner being decided on performance formula.

The Three Rivers route covers a section of Wiltshire downland with stone tracks and bridleways as well as roadwork through picturesque villages along the Wyle Valley, while the Cumbria Challenge crosses gently undulating limestone moorland with around 20% being on tarmac over mostly unfenced roads. The RiderCise Welsh Championship will take riders over sections of forestry and then miles of open, grassland mountainside...

Read more here:
https://everythinghorseuk.co.uk/endurance-gb-expands-championship-series-with-backing-from-new-sponsor/

Local NY equestrian to compete in world's longest horse race

WGRZ.com - Full Article

A woman from Orchard Park was one of 40 riders internationally chosen to compete.

Author: Leanne Stuck
Published: 11:29 PM EDT May 1, 2019

EAST AURORA, N.Y. — 26-year-old Claire Taberski grew up in Orchard Park riding horses.

"I started riding at the age of 10 at a farm in Orchard Park," she said.

"I think I was just one of those girls that always loved horses and loved ponies like every little girl's dream, but I never grew out of it," the equestrian added.

Taberski was the captain of the Equestrian Team at Canisius College and works with horses every day. She is a life-long equestrian and is always looking for her next adventure.

When an internet search led Taberski to discover the longest and toughest horse race in the world, she knew she found her next adventure.

"I thought this is the craziest thing I've ever heard of and thought I would apply," she said...

Read more here:
https://www.wgrz.com/article/news/local-equestrian-to-compete-in-worlds-longest-horse-race/71-1b198d52-f9c5-4cff-8323-e61c4828b7b5

New Zealand: Horse rider wins championships in Taupō over Easter Weekend

NZHerald.co.nz - Full Article

May 1 2019
Stratford Press
By: Alyssa Smith

Pip Mutch and her daughter Isla are proof the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

The mother and daughter from Kohuratahi each claimed New Zealand endurance horse riding titles in Taupō over the Easter weekend.

Pip won the 160km event for the 2019 Dunstan Horsefeeds ESNZ Endurance and CTR National Championships, while nine-year-old Isla won the 60km championship at the same event.

Pip says has been riding horses since she was a toddler and prepared for this event with lots of slow walks around the hills in Kohuratahi (near Whangamomona)...

Read more here:
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/stratford-press/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503390&objectid=12224511