“It’s easy to conquer the world from the back of a horse.” Genghis Khan

Nearly 1,000 years ago, the great Mongol leader Genghis Khan created the largest land empire in history. To do this, he required a huge army. One of his many challenges was to be able to keep in contact with his soldiers. He created a postal system with stations set 30 – 40 kilometres apart. At each postal station were Mongolian horses and riders. Riders would cross the empire carrying messages, changing horses at each station. The system became so efficient it was used until 1950.

Mongolia is one of the loneliest places in the world. There are long stretches of grassland, rivers, mountains and forests. The local horses are not as big as most horses you usually see. They are short, yet exceptionally strong. They are also able to gallop for long distances in any kind of weather. In Mongolia, temperatures range from minus 40 to plus 30 degrees Celsius. Nothing seems to bother them. They ignore the clouds of flies that buzz in hot weather; they are fearless and manage to survive drinking water from the river and eating the grass they find around them.

Every August, a very special horse race takes place. Over ten days, 40 riders race over a 1,000-kilometre course, which stretches across the Mongolian grassland. The race is called The Mongol Derby. To take part, riders have to apply. All applications are carefully reviewed. Invitations are sent out to those considered to be able and strong enough for this long-distance race. Each successful applicant has to pay a HK$110,000 entry fee.

Before the race begins, riders are given two days of training. They are also provided with a satellite tracker so race organisers can track where each rider is. Within the tracker is an emergency button – just in case.

Each morning, the riders set off early. They will race to different horse stations where they will be able to change their horse before continuing. At the end of each day, a camp is provided. There are no beds but each exhausted rider collapses onto a sheet on the ground and falls into a deep sleep.

Up to 400 Mongolian hunting families come to work on the race, helping to look after the horses and riders. Fifteen hundred horses are also used in the race. On the final day, there is just one winner. This year, The Mongol Derby was won by a 70-year-old American, Bob Long. He raced for 100 hours in 7.5 days on 28 different horses. You may think that his age provided him with the experience to win, but in 2013 Lara Prior Palmer was the winner. She was just 19 years old. Perhaps experience is not everything.

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VIDEO: Listen to an introduction to The Mongol Derby and enjoy the views.

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