Bob Lengthy was having fun with some wine and whiskey with associates when the documentary “All of the Wild Horses” got here up in dialog, and, quickly sufficient, was taking part in on anyone’s laptop. The movie is a have a look at the Mongol Derby, an exhausting 1,000-kilometer horse race by means of the Mongolian grasslands. Lengthy, a seasoned rider who virtually grew up on horseback on the plains of Wyoming, completed watching the movie, thought for about 20 minutes, then determined, yeah, he may experience that race. This was final October. Lengthy was 69 years previous.
Earlier this month, Lengthy not solely rode the Mongol Derby; he gained it. At 70, he’s the oldest particular person within the occasion’s 11-year historical past to win.
Not simply anyone can enter. This 12 months there have been 42 riders from 12 completely different international locations. An utility course of weeds out riders who aren’t certified. Folks accredited to experience within the Mongol Derby must reveal critical horsemanship. “I despatched my utility in, and it acquired a few pings again requesting extra info,” Lengthy stated. “I assume they have been considering, ‘are you critical, with how previous and fats you might be?’”
Lengthy in fact was critical, so he despatched in video of him driving in Excessive Mountain Path occasions, that are one thing like horseback impediment programs. The planners of the Mongol Derby have been happy by what they noticed and allowed Lengthy to enter.
The race itself is a take a look at not solely of how nicely and quick one can experience a horse, but additionally of navigation abilities, group, technique, and judgment. Modeled after Genghis Khan’s famed system of horseback messengers passing alongside info between stations set dozens of kilometers aside, the Mongol Derby consists of riders galloping between 28 stations. At each they dismount and select a horse for the following leg. Then hop again on and preserve driving.
To navigate they’ve a GPS unit. That’s it. And no matter native information the barely-broken horses have, in fact. Every rider can be given a sheet of Mongolian phrases ought to they encounter locals and must ask for help or lodging, one thing Lengthy availed himself of, and which grew to become the spotlight of the race for him.
Lengthy credit his consolation within the Mongolian Steppes with reminding him of the Wyoming plains the place he grew up.
Every station has sleeping quarters for the riders, however uncomfortable in such cramped circumstances, Lengthy sought out native households who’d let him bunk up with them for the night. He introduced alongside presents, together with pocketknives and cigarettes for adults, small toys for kids. Not solely was he profitable at negotiating locations to sleep for the night, his good graces meant he had native assist in caring for his horses.
Lengthy additionally festooned his mounts with presents. He introduced small blue ribbons from competitions gained within the US, and hooked up them to the horse he rode every leg. Upon relinquishing the horse to pick one other, he was cautious to thank the proudly owning herdsman profusely for letting him experience their horse. A favourite amongst locals, Lengthy grew to become generally known as “Cowboy Bob.”
“I might flip to the herdsmen and say that this was an incredible horse and it was a privilege to experience him,” Lengthy stated. “I might do this as a lot as I may, by means of the interpreters. So, it grew to become actually enjoyable to work together with the herdsmen.”
At every station a volunteer vet would examine the horses for put on and tear and to make sure the riders weren’t overtaxing them, although that may be a tough feat for such athletically gifted horses. “Some 500 nomadic horse herders and 1,500 horses’ companion with the Mongol Derby, making a system of veterinary stations manned by our staff of Mongolian and Worldwide vets,” stated Erik Cooper, Occasion Supervisor of the Derby. “Riders are stored to strict guidelines relating to horse welfare and should not allowed a brand new mount until their earlier companion has cleared our vet examine.”
Bob’s mounts at all times handed their checks with flying colours.
Not each rider may say the identical. If a horse checked out as injured or overworked, racers have been charged with a penalty. The racers themselves, nonetheless, have been simply as prone to be injured or overworked. This 12 months, accidents to riders included punctured lungs, damaged collarbones, and damaged ribs. Driving 100 kilometers per day is grueling, particularly at pace, on an unfamiliar horse, by means of typically unforgiving climate. Like driving the “Tour de France on unknown bicycles,” stated Lara Prior-Palmer, who gained the race in 2013 (at 19 years previous, she’s the youngest particular person to win). Over a 3rd of all riders, 39 %, didn’t end this 12 months’s occasion.
“You simply experience 650 miles on a loss of life march,” Lengthy stated.
“These little guys, they’re actual uneven, actual short-gaited. They’re robust so far as their cardio conditioning goes,” stated Lengthy.
Lengthy completed in seven and a half days, having ridden 28 completely different horses. He appeared to have a magic eye for selecting his subsequent experience at every station. As soon as he assumed the lead initially of the race, he by no means faltered, making all the appropriate decisions, staying on track, and feeling refreshed after lodging with locals.
“Preparation trumps youth, Lengthy stated. “I’d executed all my analysis. I had all my diet organized. I had all my gear examined and prepared. I don’t know find out how to do it any higher. I had ready pretty much as good as I knew find out how to put together for a mission akin to this. It was an incredible expertise for me.”
All pictures through Mongol Derby’s Fb web page.
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