Mongol Derby:

We meet two expat women in the middle of preparing for the world’s most challenging horse race – a thousand kilometres across the wilds of Mongolia. And we find out why they signed up!

The world’s most challenging horse race

Lianne

Self-confessed party girl LIANNE MASON might be something of an unlikely candidate for an event like the Mongol Derby, but she’s fully ready for the challenge – and keen to raise money for a good cause along the way.

Singapore is a black hole for time. I blinked and the next thing I knew, I’d been here for three years, living in this beautiful bubble of expat life. Boat parties, Bali beaches, brunches, boozy catchups in trendy rooftop bars – this lifestyle makes you feel as warm and comfortable as the sun on that lazy Sunday afternoon spent by the pool.

Yet, this has never really been me. Back in the UK, my roots are in the countryside; muddy walks, freezing rain. Beaches there are rarely paradise escapes – they’re wild and open, to be raced across on horses, against winds that’ll blow the thoughts right out of your overcrowded mind.

My branches have spread far from these roots, with travel and adventure becoming an addiction. Until now, I’ve tempered this by relocating halfway across the world, and jetting off to nearby destinations at every chance. But an inexplicable thing inside me keeps surfacing. I try to shut it out – focus on my career and the adulthood dream of buying a house, looking for a husband, and, soon enough, considering having kids. You know the drill.

But, maybe it’s because I’m a “snowflake millennial”, always searching for a greater purpose, always looking for something more… Or maybe it’s my Romany gypsy heritage – horses and wandering is in my blood. Maybe I’m too complacent, or bored of dead-end dates and in need of a distraction. Whatever it is, I succumbed; I signed up to take part in the world’s longest, toughest horse race.

A risky adventure

The Mongol Derby is a 1,000km race across the Mongolian Steppes involving semi-wild horses, extreme weather and wild dogs. Only half of the international riders who take part finish alive… Just joking – it’s usually the odd broken bone or an illness of some kind that takes them out.

Still, the team from The Adventurists, organisers of the Mongol Derby and other extreme race challenges around the world, are clear about the dangers involved in their events: “Your chances of being seriously injured or dying as a result of taking part are high. This is not a glorified holiday; it’s an unsupported adventure and so by its very nature extremely risky. This is what makes it an adventure.”

I was sold immediately.

I should offer some context for my decision. I like to keep fit but I’m no endurance athlete. And, while I did start riding as a young girl, that was largely charging across the rolling fields or beaches of Devon. This is quite the leap.

Around 35 other riders will join me from all over the world. Most are professional riders or they at least have the open expanses of North America, South Africa or Australia to ride around in daily – which is useful, because we’ll spend up to 14 hours a day in the saddle covering more than three marathons a day for as many as 10 days.

The training regime

Singapore isn’t known for its open spaces, so it’s an unconventional place to train for such a race. To clock up time in the saddle, I started riding again at Gallop Riding School. But I’ve also started endurance training in Malaysia with Pikar, a very experienced and connected horseman. For our next trip, he’ll arrange for me and fellow Derby rider Amelie to ride 240km on different horses over the course of the weekend.

Until recently, I hadn’t stopped to consider how even just training for this race would open my world. I’ve already ridden beautiful Arabian horses through the Malaysian countryside with new friends – friends who also happen to be celebrities in their part of the world; I’ve even ridden in the presence of a king! In March, we’ll be visiting another Derby entrant to ride in a remote area of the Philippines; and other contestants have invited us to ride in the deserts of Abu Dhabi. I knew the Mongol Derby would leave me in awe during the race, but I hadn’t expected it to have already taken its hold this long before it’s even on.

Horsemanship is just one element of the event. Physical and mental fitness is critical. I’ve enlisted the help of UFIT who have agreed to take on the challenge of trying to transform a party girl into an endurance athlete. While I do feel panic setting in as I imagine missing out on Boat Quay drinks with friends, my coach Rachael is a former British swim champion, and with this comes a great deal of respect. I know the dedication she has put into training and I know I can’t get away with hedonistic excuses.

Good cause

Having overcome my own battles with mental health, I understand first-hand the benefits horses can have. I also understand that these benefits can come with a hefty price – especially in Singapore. In my opinion, this is a theme that seems prevalent throughout mental health and social issues.

EQUAL, the Singapore-based charity I’m supporting as part of this race, uses equine-assisted learning to help develop social-emotional life skills in youths, people with special needs, families and the elderly. Horses and humans have shared a special relationship throughout history. This approach can have a profound effect on vulnerable individuals who have been unaffected by other therapies or failed by society.

Racing in the footsteps of the ancient Mongol warriors – who, while riding on the ancestors of the horses I’ll ride on, forged the greatest empire the world has ever seen: I wonder what profound effect this may have on me.

I’ll be 29 when I take part in the race. It seems a perfect way of bringing my twenties to a close, to escape this beautiful bubble that every so often feels like a hamster wheel. For a short while, there’ll be no Bali beaches or booze-filled catch-ups. It’ll be a different kind of bliss. As they say, “in riding a horse, we borrow freedom.”

Amelie

The catalyst for AMELIE MARIVAIN’s entry in the Mongol Derby was a terrible road accident that left her shaken but determined to seize every day.

Where are you from originally?

Most of my friends say that I’m French on paper and Latina at heart. I’m originally from France but I’ve studied and lived in Spain, the UK, Peru and the US, before settling in in Singapore.

How long have you been here?

It’s been five years now, and I still remember my first encounter with the tropical climate – so much heat and humidity! Little did I know that Singapore would really seduce me and I would call the Little Red Dot home.

What do you do for work?

I’m the Global Marketing Director for a B2B fintech company interconnecting different payment systems around the world to facilitate cross-border payments. This role gives me the opportunity to interact and work alongside international colleagues, partners and providers around the world and use my skills and experience to create a global roadmap of our activities.

How do you go from doing all that to signing up for the Mongol Derby?

I was travelling to Shanghai for work when I watched a documentary called “All the Wild Horses” on YouTube. There is something about the wilderness, and the rawness of this adventure, as well as the contact with and dependence on the horses that really appealed to me. The race is also a fabulous opportunity to promote the history of Mongolia as it recreates the postal system of Genghis Khan, as well as the country’s nomadic and equestrian culture. Only 40 participants from all around the world are selected and must ride 1,000km on semi-wild horses in 10 or fewer days.

What made you want to enter the event?

In August 2018, while I was on my way to visit Mount Bromo in Indonesia, my world stopped. The van I was in was going too fast, the driver lost control and we rolled over more times than I could count. It’s thanks to horse riding that I regained my confidence and control over my emotions.

This was also the moment I realised my time is now. This is not only a horserace; this is a journey to strengthen my mind and body, and an ongoing learning experience. By telling the story of my failures and successes, I want to inspire people to try and dare more.

What’s your background with horses and riding?

As a teenager, I rode for a few months with a friend, but I never learnt properly. In 2017, I had a strong desire to ride again and I got hooked immediately. Besides, the horses really helped me after the accident and I started to understand and communicate better with them. Training to become an endurance athlete is not an easy task – it means commitment and consistency, and I document all the steps on my blog to inspire people to reach for their dreams too, no matter how distant they seem to be.

What kind of training will you be doing in Singapore or elsewhere?

In Singapore, I’m looking at working on my balance and handling different kinds of horses. I’ll be riding semi-wild horses in Mongolia, hence learning to have a good seat and be relaxed in any kind of situation is key. For long-distance riding, Terengganu in Malaysia is where I’ve been going since August last year.

What do you think will be the biggest challenge of the event?

The physical pain and discomfort won’t be easy to deal with, but I believe it’s the mental game that will be the hardest. Loneliness, selfdoubt and mental tiredness seem to always be an issue in endurance sports, so I believe this is what I need to be ready to cope with.

What do you hope to achieve?

We all have 9-to-5 jobs, but sometimes we let them take over our lives. It took a traumatic car accident for me to realise that we’re here to live more. By documenting my journey leading up to the race, I intend to inspire everyone, and women in particular, to follow their dreams and keep going in the face of adversity. The idea is to cover all the aspects of this unique race so everyone can either relate to what I discover, or apply some of it to their own life. From challenges to small wins, no matter what life throws at you, we can all bounce back and aim for greatness.

And finally, always wear your seatbelt, buy good travel insurance, and, above all, stop postponing – life won’t wait for you!