Anna Guðný Baldursdóttir, a sheep and horse farmer from Bárðardalur, North Iceland, is preparing to compete in the Mongol Derby—a 1,000-kilometre horseback race across the Mongolian steppe.
As reported in a recent article by Vísir, the race is widely regarded to be one of the world’s most demanding equestrian challenges.
The race begins on 4 August near Ulaanbaatar, with 46 riders from around the world. Participants must navigate the route with minimal guidance, changing horses every 40 kilometres and relying on the hospitality of local nomadic families for shelter and food. Only five kilograms of personal gear is permitted.
Horses grazing in Mongolia / Credit: horsetrailsmongoloa
“You’re on horseback ten to fourteen hours a day,” says Anna Guðný. “You go through 26 to 28 horses, and you never know what kind you’ll get.”
Not just any horse race
The race has strict entry requirements: riders must be experienced, under 85kg, and no taller than 185cm. Anna Guðný was accepted in 2024 after applying on a whim and will now be the second ever Icelander to compete in the race.
A single mother of two, she balances full-time farming with running a riding school and working part-time at a salon. She’s raising funds for the race through Karolina Fund, offering rural experiences in exchange for support.
“I’ve loved horses all my life,” she says. “This is about pushing limits, finding out what I’m capable of.”