When Brandon Fiore met his future wife Lucy, a professional jockey, he “didn’t know the back from the front of a horse”.<\/p>\n
Fast forward six years, and the couple has just finished the world’s toughest and longest horse race \u2014 the Mongol Derby.<\/p>\n
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Brandon and Lucy Fiore have been together for more than six years. (Supplied: Kathy Gabriel)<\/p>\n
The competition draws adventure-seeking riders from across the globe to trek 1,000 kilometres through the mountains, green open valleys and wetlands of Mongolia on the backs of semi-wild horses.<\/p>\n
Competitors change steeds every 35 kilometres and must navigate and survive on their own wits and skill, living among the Mongolian herders.<\/p>\n
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Competitors ride semi-wild horses. (Supplied: Kathy Gabriel)<\/p>\n
While 27-year-old Lucy has ridden horses since she could walk, Brandon first rode a horse only three years ago.<\/p>\n
“It’s been a steep learning curve, but I’m getting there slowly,” he said.<\/p>\n
“I’m definitely not the world’s best rider, but I can get by.”<\/p>\n
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Mongolian herders help the riders wrangle the semi-wild horses. (Supplied: Kathy Gabriel)<\/p>\n
Participants can enter the Mongol Derby as individuals or as part of a team, which was the obvious choice for the couple from Harvey, in Western Australia’s South West.<\/p>\n
“Some people would say, ‘Why on earth would you want to do that with your partner?’ [or], ‘I’d never do that with my wife’, so I was like, ‘I wonder how this is going to go,'” Lucy said.<\/p>\n
“But obviously, the toughness of Brandon I’ve always respected, and then I respect him even more now.”\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Lucy Fiore has been riding horses since she could walk. (Supplied: Kathy Gabriel)<\/p>\n
Tough conditions<\/p>\n
Part of why the Mongol Derby has the reputation as the toughest race in the world is because less than 50 per cent of riders usually finish.<\/p>\n
The statistic only made the couple more determined to reach the end.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Brandon Fiore first rode a horse three years ago. (Supplied: Kathy Gabriel)<\/p>\n
Brandon said he fell off several horses over the last few days, but one was a particular “nightmare” as he struggled to get it under control.<\/p>\n
“I tried to hold onto the ropes so bad, and it dragged me, and I still have cuts on my fingers from it.”<\/p>\n
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Brandon Fiore says the race is physically and mentally challenging. (Supplied: Brandon Fiore)<\/p>\n
Brandon said they were not able to track down the horse, which was still carrying his saddle bag full of supplies.<\/p>\n
“I had no sleeping bag, no clothes \u2026 I was snuggling up to Lucy, trying to use her sleeping bag, and it was freezing at night,” he said.<\/p>\n
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The Mongol Derby is modelled after the world’s first long-distance postal system set up by Ghengis Khan in 1224. (Supplied: Kathy Gabriel)<\/p>\n
On the last day, only 8 kilometres from the finish line, Brandon was met with a timely reminder to always listen to his wife.<\/p>\n
His chaps \u2014 which help protect a rider’s legs \u2014 had completely fallen apart, on the same day the pair was attacked by a pack of “30 dogs”.<\/p>\n
Brandon said he nearly took his chaps off until his wife suggested otherwise.<\/p>\n
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Brandon and Lucy Fiore faced several challenges during the race. (Supplied: Kathy Gabriel)<\/p>\n
“Lucky I did [leave them on] because I was sitting there [trying to ignore] the dog and it’s run up and jumped up and bitten me on the side of the leg,” he said.<\/p>\n
“I’ve got a hole in my calf [of the chaps] still, but it didn’t go through the chaps thankfully.”<\/p>\n
Working as a team<\/p>\n
The pair agreed the event was the ultimate relationship test, but they were able to remain a team.<\/p>\n
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The ride was a test of the couple’s endurance and dedication to each other. (Supplied: Kathy Gabriel)<\/p>\n
“She was so good at navigation, it was like having a Tom Tom next to you,” Brandon said.<\/p>\n