Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

As one of the people who had warning bells going off from day one of this project, I have to support Melissa. The simple fact that these riders are going to be on their own without the ability to communicate ANYTHING AT ALL to someone they may meet is enough to cause concern. I see the level of panic that ensues in visitors to Egypt who may find themselves in a tricky situation without the ability to speak to someone who can understand them...and most Egyptians have a bit of English to confuse you with. I would no more turn one of my visitors loose in my desert than fly to the moon. I've taken out dressage riders, polo players and eventers and also endurance folk...remember the poor dressage guy, John and Sue? who was dying halfway through a 25 mile ride and had to be sent back by jeep...and to imagine that even here I'd just tell them "head south to the lake bed by Dahshur and back along the farm tracks" where there ARE people who are nice and helpful but who can't understand a word you are saying is totally irresponsible.

If someone wants that kind of adventure they should be having it on their own feet or at least their own horse. No one is "buying" these horses. They are being "loaned" by people who probably can't imagine what is actually going to happen.

Maryanne

On Tue, Jun 30, 2009 at 7:28 AM, Melissa Margetts <haulnoats@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Kat, I too read ALL of the articles and ALL of the info to be found on both the Long Riders Guild http://www.thelongridersguild.com/mongolia.htm web page and on the various "The Adventurists" websites http://www.mongolderby.com . I HAVE been to Tuva on the Steppes of Outer Mongolia though not on a Equi-tour as yet, but I can still attest that it is not like Kansas, Toto. ...
Here is a link that Karen Chaton has, to a letter of heads up and warning to the Mongol Derby riders and their families from Bonnie Folkins, an experienced long distance rider very familiar to riding in Mongolia, informing them of what they will be encountering and it DAMN SURE doesn't sound like a "Duck ride" through Nebraska! A warning of the real dangers in Mongolia <http://enduranceridestuff.com/blog/2009/06/warning-real-dangers-mongolia/> A very informative letter well worth the read before "choosing a position"....

Here is the complete up-to-date rider list:
Annelie Simmons, Carina Oliver, Charles Van Wyk, Charlotte Davison, Dave Murray, David Coddington, Emily Morris-Lowe, Julian Peppit, Julie Burridge, Katy Willings, Rowan Love-Fielden, Hannah Ritchie, Holly Budge, Jeremy Pemberton, Jim Lawless, John Munro, Martin Kaan, Matilda Branson, Nick Farhill, Paul Chew, Sabrina Verjee, Saskia Van Heeren, Tara Reddy, Tomeu Mestres, Ben Fogel, Will Kemble-Clarkson, and Richard Dunwoody.
The site says: "These riders, amongst them are hardened adventurers, polo players and eventers" are from New Zealand, Australia, Sweden, South Africa, Denmark, Italy, Spain, Scotland, USA and the UK.
Does anyone recognize any names of American Endurance riders who may be AERC members and can give us some more info on this ride and how the organization has helped to prepare the riders who are new to this type of adventure?
Melissa Margetts

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