Diary of a Derriere #dareyourderriere

As part of our #dareyourderriere campaign we will be testing the performance of our Derrieres in the ULTIMATE CHALLENGE- The Mongol Derby. Follow our Diary of a Derriere, written by Alice Newling to find out their progress...

Mongol Derby Beginnings
By Alice Newling

Nelson & Alice in their prime flying around Gatcombe Intermediate Championships in 2010. 

Last week, both looking a lot less athletic but they do have a backpack full of very heavy, useless items.

Unlike many others taking part, the Mongol Derby has not always been something that has been on my radar. I heard about it briefly a few years ago when flicking through Horse and Hound but never thought anything more. My crave for an adrenaline rush was more than fulfilled as I evented to Advanced Level  full time and rode out racehorses in the mornings – I didn’t feel the need for anything more! However, at 25 I left for University and suddenly life became rather tamer. Sure the lay-ins were a treat and University sports and drinking was fun, but it wasn’t exciting. One day, whilst enjoying the 5 months summer holidays, I came across an advert for the Mongol Derby on Facebook, thought it looked fun so entered never thinking I’d get chosen. Turns out probably not all that many people enter! After a quick phone interview I was in and suddenly it dawned on me quite what I had got myself in to.

The initial problem was breaking the news to my parents, they had accepted the eventing thing but I wasn’t sure quite how well this one would go down! I sneakily sent them an email from India, where I was at the time, updating them on our travels and added a link at the bottom saying I’d been accepted into this event in hope that they wouldn’t know how to open it. THEY DIDN’T‼! I also had some issues of funding the trip. I’d worked all summer and sometimes through term time but this wasn’t enough, thus student loan was to be heavily relied on. Naturally, this ran out fairly quickly hence most items I have acquired for the race have been form eBay –  all tried and tested which is quite a bonus in my mind.

In the meantime some form of training had to be started. I was at Uni in Kingston-Upon-Thames and so unless I wanted to spend £80 on an hours hack around Richmond Park, riding wasn’t going to be an option. The gym was joined and I started some weight and cardio training alongside playing hockey twice a week. I started off going to the gym around 3 times a week but this has fluctuated massively from September to July (sometimes 5 sometimes 0.) I have just finished my Third Year and so naturally the work load increased and due to my course being Primary Education, many months were spent in school which drastically reduced both time and energy – children are incredibly energy sapping! I also tried biking to increase my leg strength and mix up the regime as I found it all a little monotonous. This met an emotional end when my bike, my pride and joy for three years, got stolen. Thank god for insurance.

Whenever I have had the chance to travel back to Norfolk to ride I have. We have one horse left at home, Nelson. He was my old Advanced Eventer who should have been sold but was just way too dreamy and when anyone came to try him mum would make up a reason why they were not worthy of having them. Needless to say, he retired as a happy hacker at the grand old age of 12 with no recent injuries and very low leg mileage, he has loved every moment since. Apart from being quite hairy he has no other similarities to Mongol Horses. He stands about 4 Hands higher, is like an armchair to ride and you are in total control, but any riding is good riding right?!

I have two main fears for the Derby. The first being getting lost (I have yet to turn on my GPS and work out how to use it.) The second being aching and soreness. Pre 2013 I was what I would describe as ‘riding fit’, riding a minimum of 6/7 horses a day quite happily. This number has regressed HUGELY. I am well aware of what having a sore bum feels like have regularly forgotten to wear my cycling shorts when going for a bike ride. Would not recommend; it takes a while to recover. This prompted some home research into the possibility of a cycling short equivalent for riding and there seemed to only be one option, Derriere Equestrian. If they’re good enough for Carl Hester then they’re good enough for me! I am super excited to try them out and having spoken to a past Mongol Derby rider it seems comfort is key. In the meantime I will carry on loading my backpack up with the heaviest items I can find around the house (past items have included full bottles of water, paper weights and bike D-locks) and dragging Nelson out for some rides along with a bit of cycling and a lot of worrying. I look forward to reporting the improvements that a pair of Derrieres will make in my next blog!

Al x

P.S My parents eventually found out what the Mongol Derby was, their reactions were mixed.