A dream achieved
Two local equestrians have returned home to Horowhenua and Ka¯ piti after completing one of the most extreme endurance horse races in the world — the Gobi Desert Cup.
Stephanie Scott and Kasmira Graham took part in the event at the end of August — a 480km multi-stage endurance race through the notorious Gobi Desert riding Mongolian horses for daily 80km stretches.
A different horse was used each day, and rest stops involved stringent vet checks, but riding horses they had not met before meant plenty of confidence was required, Scott said.
“Our horses at home we build a strong bond with, and know what to expect in most situations,” she said. “For this we needed to have confidence, and to be adaptable and capable.”
Scott comes from an eventing background, doing dressage, showjumping and cross country, however endurance riding in the Gobi Desert was a whole new ball game, she said.
“Neither Kasmira or I are endurance riders,” she said. “We did some training rides of 20, 30 and 50km but I was worried if I’d be fit and strong enough.”
It turned out she was, but the hardest thing was knee and ankle pain after being in the saddle so long. She said the horses, a local, Mongolian breed, were well prepared and looked after and that for the riders it was really a mental game. The horses selected for the event were assessed on age, health, quietness, experience and ability to cover long distances.
The animals went to a training centre to prepare and condition for the race, however they were still only semi-trained.
Temperatures hit 40 degrees on several days, and she and Graham were drinking up to six litres of water a day, leading to some tricky pit-stops, although staying together throughout the event meant they could help each other.
There were a couple of other hairy moments too, when a skittish horse leapt sideways as Graham tried to mount, resulting in her sprawling on the ground, Scott said.
“These horses are as close to wild as you can get. We didn’t have any misadventures though. The race is really well organised, with support vehicles and they keep an eye on you the whole way.”
Scott said attending the event had been a huge undertaking, and the entry fee alone was US$7000. Fulfilling her dream had been years in the making, and she felt a massive sense of personal accomplishment.
“If the opportunity presented itself, I’d absolutely do it again,” she said. The event also supported the local Mongolian community, with all organisers and officials volunteers, over 50 Mongolian jobs created and all profits to the community. Riders spend evenings with nomadic Mongolian families and slept in traditional “gers” or tents.
The race was co-founded in 2017 by endurance rider Camille Champagne and leading Mongolian veterinarian Naranbataar Adiya, the only event of its kind to combine endurance and support of Mongolian culture and horses.