Stratford woman's dash at Mongol Derby
Wendy Chambers rode horseback, slept rough and chowed down on fatty mutton just to experience Mongolia's high country.
Wendy, a horse breeder from Stratford was one of two Australians to compete in the Mongol Derby, described as the longest and toughest horse race in the world.
It involves 1000 kilometres of riding across the Mongolian Steppe and while it's a picturesque journey, it's also hazardous.
The terrain throws up all sorts of obstacles like big pot holes hidden by grass.
Then there are the wild ponies provided to the riders for the race.
Some of the 41 riders fell off their horses at the start while others were evacuated further into the derby as terrain and a touchy mount took their toll.
"I got bucked off on the second last day," Wendy says.
"That's when I realised how big Mongolia was because I was riding a fairly feisty stallion and it decided to buck me off about 25 kilometres into the second leg and then take off with a mob of wild horses."
Everything Wendy needed to continue in the race was on that runaway horse.
She had no option but to walk and run alone for more than four hours to track it down.
"It was one of those 'bugger' moments," she laughs.
There were a few more of those moments which Wendy shared on ABC Gippsland's Mornings Program, including spending eight days of her life without a hot shower, comfortable bed and a tasty feed.
Wendy, a horse breeder from Stratford was one of two Australians to compete in the Mongol Derby, described as the longest and toughest horse race in the world.
It involves 1000 kilometres of riding across the Mongolian Steppe and while it's a picturesque journey, it's also hazardous.
The terrain throws up all sorts of obstacles like big pot holes hidden by grass.
Then there are the wild ponies provided to the riders for the race.
Some of the 41 riders fell off their horses at the start while others were evacuated further into the derby as terrain and a touchy mount took their toll.
"I got bucked off on the second last day," Wendy says.
"That's when I realised how big Mongolia was because I was riding a fairly feisty stallion and it decided to buck me off about 25 kilometres into the second leg and then take off with a mob of wild horses."
Everything Wendy needed to continue in the race was on that runaway horse.
She had no option but to walk and run alone for more than four hours to track it down.
"It was one of those 'bugger' moments," she laughs.
There were a few more of those moments which Wendy shared on ABC Gippsland's Mornings Program, including spending eight days of her life without a hot shower, comfortable bed and a tasty feed.
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