Gobi Desert Cup

The Gobi Desert Cup is a nearly 300-mile (480-kilometer) endurance horse race run over the span of several days in the Asian nation of Mongolia. The race, which accepts experienced riders of all skill levels, takes place over several types of terrain, including grasslands, rocky ground, and desert sands. New horses are chosen each day for the riders and selected by local Mongolian nomads, who carry on the traditions of a rich horse-riding culture that dates back millennia. The inaugural race was held in 2017 and established not only as a sporting competition, but also as a way to support the Mongolian culture and assist local communities.

Background

Mongolia is an Asian nation located between China and Russia, covering about 600,000 square miles (1.56 million square kilometers) of diverse terrain. The majority of Mongolia consists of grassland steppes with a cold, mountainous region in the north and the arid Gobi Desert in the south. The Gobi is the largest desert in Asia, stretching for about 500,000 square miles (1.3 million square kilometers) over about one-third of southern Mongolia and into northern China. The Gobi is a mostly rocky desert, with only about 5 percent of its terrain covered by sand dunes. In the Mongolian language, the name Gobi means “very large and dry.”

As of 2020, Mongolia had a population of about 3.48 million people, with about 1.7 million living in the capital of Ulaanbaatar. The nation is one of the least densely populated countries in the world, with an average of about two people per square kilometer. About one-third of Mongolia’s population is nomadic or semi-nomadic and relies on the breeding and raising of horses as a means of support. Mongolia’s horses are viewed as a national symbol and an integral part of the nation’s history and culture. The people use horses for travel, hunting, and herding, as well as for competing in sporting events. In many circles, Mongolians are considered to be the best equestrians in the world.

Overview

In 2016, noted endurance rider Camille Champagne came up with the idea of holding a horse race in Mongolia after attending that year’s Mongolian Derby. She enlisted the help of Mongolian veterinarian Naranbaatar Adiya to develop an endurance race that focused on the safety of both the horse and rider and, at the same time, act as a source of income for the local nomadic population. The first Gobi Desert Cup was held in 2017.

Participants in the Gobi Desert Cup ride a distance of 300 miles (480 kilometers) over six days. The course is marked and carefully chosen to feature a variety of terrains—from sand dunes to rolling grasslands to rocky desert. Riders travel a distance of about 50 miles (80 kilometers) a day with mandatory veterinarian checks on the horse at the halfway mark and end of each stage. At the vet checks, horses are fed and examined for injuries and lameness. Their heart rates are also monitored. Additional checkpoints are set up at regular intervals to provide water and electrolytes for both horses and riders. On average, riders spend about five to ten hours daily on each section of the course. New horses are chosen for the riders each day, although riders are assigned their specific horse through a random drawing. The horses for heavier riders and amateur riders are chosen from different selection pools. To be successful, a rider must form a bond with their new horse within the first 9.5 miles (15 kilometers). Because the horses are semi-wild and run free at all times, Mongolian herders must round up the horses each day before the start of the next stage. On some occasions, the herders can travel upwards of 6 miles (10 kilometers) to collect the horses.

Riders compete both as individuals and as part of a team. They can apply to take part in the Gobi Desert Cup online, but the final decision on participation is left to race organizers and extended through invitation only. Riders can be professional equestrians who have competed in various disciplines or amateurs as long as they have riding experience. All riders must first undergo training with previous participants in the Gobi Desert Cup or a certified endurance race organization. Riders are also expected to be able to monitor their horse’s heart rate with a stethoscope. Daily awards are presented for sportsmanship and to the riders who best manage their horses. Overall awards are presented for best managed and to the top three individual riders and three four-person teams that accumulate the most points over the course of the race. Event rules state that for a rider to succeed in the best-managed category, their horse must pass a check for issues such as heart rate, consistency, recovery, compatibility with the rider, and any problems that occur during the stage.

During the race, participants live in a nomadic camp and experience the traditional ways of life of the local people. The race provides sustainable employment for more than sixty Mongolian nomads, many of whom work for months beforehand to prepare for the event. About thirty people are needed to run the local training center, where more than 160 horses are trained to take part in the race. The horses are hired from local Mongolian families and brought to the center two months before the race.

The Gobi Desert Cup is held in August to ensure that the horses can be prepared for the approaching winter. In 2018, eighteen riders from Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, New Zealand, Sweden, and the United States participated in the event. In 2019, twenty-one riders took part. Into the 2020s, the Gobi Desert Cup continued to showcase the unique and enduring Mongolian culture.

Bibliography

“The Annual Gobi Desert Cup Kicks Off Next Week.” Horse Canada, 19 Aug. 2019, horse-canada.com/horse-news/the-annual-gobi-desert-cup-kicks-off-next-week. Accessed 9 Jan. 2025.

David, Karen D. Endurance Horse Riding. Publish Nation, 2015.

“Gobi Desert Cup.” Equestrian Living, eqliving.com/gobi-desert-cup. Accessed 9 Jan. 2025.

“The Horse in Mongolian Culture.” American Museum of Natural History, www.amnh.org/explore/videos/biodiversity/wild-horse-mongolia/horse-mongolian-culture. Accessed 9 Jan. 2025.

Wallace, Heather. “The Gobi Desert Cup.” The Timid Rider, timidrider.com/gobi-desert-cup. Accessed 9 Jan. 2025.