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UAE riders make history in the Mongol Derby

UAE riders make history in the Mongol Derby

Sharjah 247 hours ago
The world's longest horse race
Dubbed the world's greatest equine adventure, the Mongol Derby spans 1,000 kilometers across the rugged terrain of the Mongolian Steppe. Held from August 4 to August 11, the race ran daily from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. over eight consecutive days, testing the limits of both riders and horses.
Overcoming harsh conditions
Sheikh Khalifa Al Hamed described the experience as a true test of endurance, facing mountain passes, valleys, sand dunes, plains, and riverbeds. Dozens of riders withdrew due to extreme exhaustion and difficulties handling unfamiliar Mongolian horses, which posed a unique challenge as participants could not ride their own horses.
A triumph of Emirati determination
Reaching the finish line alongside his compatriot, Al Hamed emphasized that completing the race was a major achievement for Emirati riders, especially in their first-ever participation. Riding for 12 hours daily, they persevered through physical and mental challenges to prove the strength and resilience of UAE endurance athletes.
The Mongol Derby's global prestige
Recognized as the world's longest horse race, the Mongol Derby traces the route of Genghis Khan's historic postal system across Mongolia. It is considered one of the toughest and most prestigious endurance events in equestrian sports.
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The world's longest horse race Dubbed the world's greatest equine adventure, the Mongol Derby spans 1,000 kilometers across the rugged terrain of the Mongolian Steppe. Held from August 4 to August 11, the race ran daily from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. over eight consecutive days, testing the limits of both riders and horses. Overcoming harsh conditions Sheikh Khalifa Al Hamed described the experience as a true test of endurance, facing mountain passes, valleys, sand dunes, plains, and riverbeds. Dozens of riders withdrew due to extreme exhaustion and difficulties handling unfamiliar Mongolian horses, which posed a unique challenge as participants could not ride their own horses. A triumph of Emirati determination Reaching the finish line alongside his compatriot, Al Hamed emphasized that completing the race was a major achievement for Emirati riders, especially in their first-ever participation. Riding for 12 hours daily, they persevered through physical and mental challenges to prove the strength and resilience of UAE endurance athletes. The Mongol Derby's global prestige Recognized as the world's longest horse race, the Mongol Derby traces the route of Genghis Khan's historic postal system across Mongolia. It is considered one of the toughest and most prestigious endurance events in equestrian sports.

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