UAE woman competitor in world's toughest derby

A 26-year Dubai resident will participate in the world's longest horse race. Travelling across 620 miles of Mongolian steppe with rivers and hills, the Mongol Derby is in the ‘Guinness Book of Records’ for being the world's longest horse race.

Drawing in 40 competitors each year from around the globe, this year's race includes riders from 13 countries, including a New Zealander who has competed in the World Equestrian Games, an Everest climber from America and Uma Mencia Uranga, an endurance rider based in Dubai.

The race certainly lives up to its reputation and in a normal year only half of the competitors actually finish the race, with last year seeing two helicopter evacuations. Thunderstorms, vicious dogs, dehydration, sunburn and falls from semi-wild horses are some of the features of the race.

But while the race might be tough on its human participants, it's a lot easier on the traditional Mongol horses which the riders use. They are famous for their endurance and sturdiness and get changed every 25 miles so they never get too tired, with vets on hand throughout the race.

Uma is only 26, but is hoping she can bring the title of 'Mongol Derby Winner' back to Dubai, where she has studied and worked for the last seven years.

She  has been an endurance horse rider at the Fazza Stables in Dubai and a Rustic Pathways (www.rusticpathways.com) group leader, for the past two summers, leading groups of students in Morocco and Mongolia.

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