APRIL 2019 THE RIDER /13 The Gobi Desert Cup is a Race That Makes a Difference


Heather Wallace. www.timidrider.com The Gobi Desert Cup is an en-


durance race that makes a difference. Each rider lived with nomadic people; rode endurance-trained Mongolian horses, and traveled 480 kilometers to test their endurance and challenge their horsemanship through an international endurance race all while secluded from the world. Following a marked course, riders started every morning at 7 AM and completed the course before 7 PM. Two FEI-qualified veterinary checks were held each day; one at 40 kilometers and one at the end of the 80 kilometers. For the second year in a row, all


horses and riders completed the race, and there was less than a 5% elimination on course, well below the global average of 40% in endurance riding. Eighteen riders competed each day over different terrain on different horses but were brought together as a community in their passion for adventure and horseman- ship.


Lorie said, “I could not have chosen a perfect setting other than the big sky of Mongolia and the Gobi Desert Cup for my heart to be taken by the sport of en- durance racing, and of course by the Mongolian horses.” In the end, the Gobi Desert Cup


and Overall Best Managed award was earned by world-champion endurance rider, Christoph Schork (US) with a tie for second place from Elodie Maillard (FRA) and Jeffrey L. Stuart (US). The team award was won by Team USA con- sisting of Christoph Schork, Jeffrey L. Stuart, Allan Horn, and Bob Gauthier. To learn more about the Gobi


Desert Cup or to apply please visit www.gobidesertcup.com. ——————


The Rider spoke with Lorie: Lorie Duff was the only endurance


rider from Canada in the Mongolian Race. “I was honoured to represent Canada” she says. “I’m not an en- durance rider by any stretch of the imag- ination but I sure found out very quickly what the word means, especially in the equine world Some of her most amazing mo-


ments during the 6 days and 480 km in the Gobi desert were making friends with all the other participants “The Mongolian culture and the


Mongolian horses are something to be in awe over.” She will never forget her first experience with a Mongolian horse whom she named Babe. “The Mongo-


lian horse has a heart of gold. They are truly a unique horse.” Lorie is also proud of winning a


Sportsmanship award. “I hope someday to go back to Mongolia to ride in the country free and in the open with Mon- golian horses as far as the eye can see.” Now back home in Canada Lorie is


ready to go for this season with a fresh start and a fresh min. She is working to- wards travelling all over Canada as well as the USA, Norway, Sweden and Eu- rope in the fall as a clinician and guest speaker, educating and teaching her phi- losophy of Horsemanship Kicking off this year in her home


surroundings of Ottawa, Ontario Lorie had an excellent first clinic with great participants, great horses, open minds


and hearts. Fraser Fields Farm, located in Richmond, Ontario opened their doors for a great weekend of Horseman- ship, March 16-17/2019. This is just the first of many clinics for Lorie in Ontario this year ! “I head out on the open road to


Lexington, Kentucky, my home away from home, every March to be involved with a wonderful event, called The Road to The Horse 2019. My sponsor is Es- panasilk All Natural Grooming Products whom is also a main sponsor of the event each year” Anyone wanting more information


about Lorie‘s performances clinics or workshops or to simply just speak to her can contact Lorie Duff through her web- site at www.libertylanefarm.net


Eighteen equestrians from seven


countries united to race for the Cup. The Australian riders were Amy Eighteen; Cecilia Stone; Tania Orlov; Ruth Ben- ney; Claire McManus; and Michael Shaw. The New Zealand riders were: Kasmira Graham; Mathilde Schwarz; Stephanie Scott, and Peter Breidahl. The European riders consisted of Jon Pieszak Heebøll from Denmark and Sweden and Elodie Maillard from France. Finally from North America were our experi- enced endurance riders: Jeffrey L. Stu- art; Bob Gauthier; Christoph Schork; Allan Horn, and Howard Kent from the United States and horsemanship trainer Lorie Duff of Canada. Canadian Lorie Duff of Liberty


Lane Horsemanship, based in Ottawa, was inspired to race on behalf of the CHEO foundation. Lorie was driven to complete the race for the children de- spite suffering an injured knee and de- hydration. While she was unable to ride the full six days, she pushed on deter- mined to learn about endurance and raise money for CHEO. As a result, she finished the race in 18th place with the encouragement of her fellow riders.


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