Michelle Van Baalen, born and raised in Langley BC, has been accepted to compete in the 2027 Mongol Derby, running August 1-13 on the steppes of Mongolia. The longest and toughest horse race in the world, it extends 1,000 km through some unforgiving wilderness, and recreates the horse messenger system developed by Genghis Khan in 1224.
Riders travel for 12 hours a day for 10 days and must navigate to each horse check-in station at 35-km intervals, changing to fresh horses at each station. The route includes high passes, huge valleys, wooded hills, river crossings wetlands and more. Around 1,500 horses borrowed from local owners are vetted and trained for the event (although they can be notoriously feisty!). The horses measure only 12 to 14 hands, but are little powerhouses – sturdy, fearless and tough. Racers stay with local nomadic people in yurts, and vets and medical professionals are available to ensure the safety and health of the horses and riders. Friends, family, and fans can follow the satellite tracker-equipped riders on a live map, and daily progress reports are posted on the race website.
Van Baalen is a very versatile rider who competes in hunter/jumper, rodeo and endurance. She teaches riders and trains horses full time in the Okanagan Valley of BC at her Equineimity business. Michelle won the Heather Bradshaw Memorial endurance races in BC in 2022 and 2024 (25 and 50 miles, respectively). She is an accomplished pack rider leading three-day hunting trips with friends. She competed in the Williams Lake Rodeo in 2017 to 2019 and has also participated in mounted combat clinics and three-day eventing. She believes in giving back to the community and has volunteered for camps assisting children mourning the loss of loved ones.
The fundraising goal to get Van Baalen to Mongolia is $50,000. The entrance fee in Canadian funds is $28,000, which includes food and local accommodation in yurts during the face. Airfare and hotel stays in Mongolia before and after the race are extra and will cost just under $10,000, plus event insurance must be purchased. Michelle will need to train almost full time for six months before the race, which will affect her income. A GoFundMe fundraising appeal has been launched by Marlene Best, and around $7,000 has already been raised.
The Latest
