About Hannah... 

I am a 26 year old New Zealander, currently based in London working as a Marketing Executive. From an early age I have been involved in a variety of equine endeavours from Pony Club and Eventing to starting and training horses. Most recently I have worked in an Equine Rehabilitation yard giving physical therapy to horses recovering from injury and working with ex-racehorses to give them new lives as riding hacks.

I ride to support the work of Mercy Corps and an inner city Riding for the Disabled group. Please give generously to these worthy causes.

The Mongol Derby is a 1000km horse race across Mongolia. This race will be taking me to a country of true horsemen, and into the very seat of equestrian history. I am riding to raise money for two charities; Mercy Corps and Riding for the Disabled.

Recreating Chinggis Khan’s ancient messenger route, the competitors astride semi-wild Mongolian horses race through the remote steppes, native to the nomadic population. It will be a time to sink or swim for survival in this unforgiving territory.

There is no marked course, no roads or tracks, we must find our own water and depend on the hospitality of the nomadic people we encounter along the way for food and shelter in their gers (Mongolian tents). With only 10kg of weight allowance for gear, needless to say, possessions will pose no hindrance.

It is a concept as daunting as it is thrilling and according to the Guinness Book of Records, should we complete this feat, it will hold the title of the longest horse race in the world.

The inspiration for the race is due to the wily Chinggis Khan. The Mongol Leader who created a mighty far-reaching Empire during the Thirteenth Century. During this time, as Chinggis vied for total world domination, he employed an efficient postal system of horse messengers to communicate with his nomadic warriors in the outer reaches of his expanding empire. The messenger riders tightly bandaged their bodies in silk to protect their innards and allowing themselves to remain in the saddle for days, even eating and sleeping while mounted.