Every year we vet and train 1,500 Mongolian horses for the Mongol Derby. Each horse is catalogued and checked thoroughly by our professional vet team before being allowed to join the race. They’re then vetted before the riders take them on their less-than-40km run and they are scrutinised again after completing the leg. Riders are not allowed to continue until the horse is given the all clear.

These horses may be smaller than some are used to riding, but by God are they incredible. Mongolian horses were the intercontinental ballistic missiles of the thirteenth century, and carried the all-conquering Mongol armoured warriors across half the world. Diminutive, sturdy, fearless, wild, and unbelievably tough, they have changed very little over the centuries.

Of the three million horses inhabiting the steppe, the great majority of them live in large semi-feral herds, surviving temperature extremes from -40°C in winter to +30°C in summer. They mostly eat steppe grass, drink water as they find it, and are rarely given any extra nutrition by their herders.

The Mongol Derby is an adventure so we want you to be on your own. If all goes well, you’ll be oblivious to the miracle of emergency support going on around you: 4×4’s flying across the steppe, the 24 hour HQ support team keeping eyes on the field and following your every move via satellite trackers strapped to you, herders corralling horses – all working to keep the Derby rolling.

We bring on a large team of incredibly experienced international and Mongolian vets who check each horse before and after your ride to ensure the horse has been well treated.

We have a phenomenal team of medics hiding in the wings ready to swoop in and stick you back together.

The Mongol Derby is no small undertaking, with over 500 people coming together to build an unforgettable race.

The Mongol Derby Academy is a new project to give riders the skills they need to compete in and complete the Mongol Derby. Riders signed up to the Mongol Derby get a mandatory 3 days training at the start camp as part of the race, whereas the Academy is available for future Derbyists, or for signed-up Derby riders wanting to further hone their skills. The Academy takes two forms:

5 Day Academy Camp
The first is an intensive 5 day training camp in Mongolia where riders get to take on legs of the Derby while under constant supervision. It’s designed primarily for those looking to familiarize themselves with the Derby, and who want to maximize their competitive edge.

Approved Trainer Network
The second is our growing network of approved trainers, all of whom are ex-Mongol Derby riders with a wealth of experience to draw from. They all offer different types of instruction, from personalised training programs to weekend Derby simulations to help prep you for the start.