The Mongol Derby: The World's Longest and Toughest Horse Race

The Mongol Derby is the benchmark. Every other ultra-endurance horse race is measured against it. Launched in 2009 by adventure company The Adventurists (now spun out as The Equestrianists), it covers 1,000km across the Mongolian Steppe on a network of horse stations that mirrors the postal system Genghis Khan established in 1224.

It holds the Guinness World Record for longest multi-horse race. It is also widely described, by participants, organisers and observers alike, as the toughest horse race on earth.

How the race works

Roughly 40 riders enter each year. The race takes 7 to 10 days to complete.

Riders cover the route by changing horses approximately every 40km at one of 25 horse stations. Horses are Mongolian breed: hardy, around 13 hands, semi-wild, with very different behaviour from the horses most western riders are used to. At each station, riders pick from a fresh herd that has been vetted by the race team.

Riding window: 7am to 7pm. After 7pm, all riders must stop. Some sleep in gers (yurts) at horse stations, some camp out, some stay with local herding families.

Navigation is self-managed using GPS and satellite trackers. The route changes every year. Riders find their own way between stations.

Vet checks happen at every station. Horse heart rate must drop below 56 beats per minute within 30 minutes of arrival, or riders incur penalties. Welfare of the horse is the absolute priority.

Who gets accepted

Entry is by application and interview. The Equestrianists are looking for riders with documented experience of remote travel, camping, and self-supported adventure, not just riding ability. Endurance riding background helps but is not required. Past winners include working cowboys, polo players, eventers, and one cheesemaker.

There is a height limit of 185cm for horse welfare reasons. Total rider weight including kit and saddle has structural caps.

The entry fee is $18,000 for 2026 and $19,000 for 2027. Each rider must also raise at least £500 for Steppe and Hoof, a non-profit supporting Mongolian herding communities.

Acceptance can take 12 to 24 months from application. There is a waiting list, particularly for popular years.

What riders actually go through

Two riders to date have completed the Mongol Derby in their 70s, the most famous being Robert Long, who won outright at 70 in 2019. Top finishers tend to be in their 30s and 40s, but the spread is wide.

Injuries are common. Around 25 percent of starters typically fail to finish. Common withdrawals: dislocated shoulders from being bucked off semi-wild horses, heatstroke, broken ribs, and severe saddle sores. The Equestrianists field a full medical and veterinary team. Air evacuation is built into the race infrastructure.

Days in the saddle run 12 to 13 hours. Most riders lose between 4 and 8 kilograms over the course of the race.

Training to get accepted, and to survive

The minimum useful training is six months of endurance work, ideally with completed 50-mile rides. American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC) events are the closest US analogue; Endurance GB graded rides are the UK equivalent. Several past competitors have run dedicated boot camps in Oregon and elsewhere; Stevie Delahunt of Mongol Derby Bootcamp is the best-known.

Beyond endurance fitness, the underrated training is sleep deprivation, navigation under stress, eating poorly while needing to ride, and getting on unfamiliar horses without time to assess them. This is harder to train, but spending time in any rough country trail riding environment helps.

How Saddl thinks about the Mongol Derby

Most riders who consider the Mongol Derby will never enter. The cost, the time commitment for training, and the realistic injury risk price out the casual entrant. That is appropriate. The race is designed for people who genuinely want to be in remote country on a horse they have never met for ten consecutive days.

If you want to experience Mongolia and the Mongolian horse without entering the race, the established commercial trail rides through the Steppe deliver much of the riding character at a fraction of the risk. Start with our Mongolia Riding Holidays page for operators worth booking through.

Frequently asked questions

How long is the Mongol Derby?+

1,000km (620 miles) across the Mongolian Steppe, completed in 7 to 10 days, riding 12 to 13 hours per day.

How much does it cost to enter?+

Entry is $18,000 for 2026 and $19,000 for 2027. Each rider must also fundraise at least £500 for Steppe and Hoof, a Mongolian herding charity. Riders cover their own flights, kit, and pre-race training costs separately.

How many horses does each rider use?+

Approximately 25, one for each leg of the race. Riders pick from a fresh herd of semi-wild Mongolian horses at each of 25 stations along the route, with vet checks at every change.

What is the difference between the Mongol Derby and the Gaucho Derby?+

Both are run by The Equestrianists. The Mongol Derby is longer (1,000km vs 500km), held on the Mongolian Steppe with frequent horse changes, and rides faster. The Gaucho Derby is shorter but covers harder Patagonian wilderness terrain, with fewer horse changes and a far greater navigation and survival load. Mongol is described as the longest; Gaucho is described as the toughest.

Who runs the Mongol Derby?+

The Equestrianists, a spin-out from The Adventurists, who launched the race in 2009. The race has been run every August since, with the exception of the 2020 COVID cancellation.

What experience do I need to be accepted?+

Documented endurance riding experience and remote travel experience are both expected. The selection panel interviews each applicant. Riders without prior endurance ride completions are unlikely to be accepted on first application, though some have got in through demonstrated long-distance trekking and adventure history.

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