3,000 km on horseback: that's the challenge launched by the 'Great Mongolian Ride', an exceptional equestrian adventure planned in Mongolia for the summer of 2020.

Crossing the country from one end to the other, with only your horse and a handful of other riders as companions, is the "rather ambitious" idea that came to Gabriella Schmidt-Corsitto to fund dental care for Mongolian children. With ten weeks of trekking ahead, the 'Great Mongolian Ride' is the world's longest charitable horse expedition, but you can also join for a shorter 10-day period.

Across the length and breadth of Mongolia

This grand horse trek, for which registration is already open, will span ten weeks in total to complete an unprecedented journey: a crossing of Mongolia from west to east. "We'll cover 50 kilometers a day on horseback," explains Gabriella, or Gaby, the organizer. 50 km is nearly twice the distance of a typical horse trek: so you'll need to go at a trot or gallop. "To participate, you need to be an experienced rider, be in good shape, and above all be open-minded and enthusiastic. It will be an incredible adventure."

Gaby and her partners have planned meticulous organization to ensure the safety of both riders and horses. Participants will be accompanied by a team of experienced guides, and each will have two horses, to alternate and ensure the animals' well-being. "Every 1,000 kilometers, we'll take on fresh horses so we don't exhaust them," Gaby clarifies. The expedition will be equipped with satellite phones in case of emergency and closely monitored by a doctor in an accompanying vehicle – which also allows tired participants to take a short break if needed. Despite wild camping and crossing through desert steppes, comfort will be ensured at a minimum, with portable toilets, portable showers, and even a generator for laundry. Plus, a chef will prepare both Mongolian and European dishes.

An incredible sense of freedom

Gaby is eager to make this "dream" a reality: you can see it in her eyes lighting up when she talks about it. And to make the adventure accessible to more people, it's possible to join the expedition for just one of the 10-day segments. "It will be a unique way to discover Mongolia, its breathtaking landscapes, the culture of our guides, and our horses," she assures.

"The sense of freedom you feel when horseback riding in Mongolia is just incredible," adds Gaby. "I think there's no other country in the world where you can feel all these emotions of vastness, solitude, and wonder when you gallop through Mongolia's empty steppes, climb mountains with your horse, cross immense rivers... It's fantastic."

Setting out to help Mongolian children

Especially when doing it for a worthy cause. 20% of registration fees for the 'Great Mongolian Ride' will go to the Misheel Kids Foundation, co-founded by Gaby, which organizes dental education and care for Mongolian children.

Trained as a dental hygienist, Gaby discovered a glaring lack of access to dental care for some Mongolian children during her first visits to orphanages. "It was a disaster. Every child had between four and twelve damaged teeth. They were really suffering."

Mongolians can receive treatment at private clinics, which not everyone can afford, or at public hospitals. "But it's difficult to get an appointment, and sometimes they run out of supplies," Gaby laments. "We created this association to provide immediate assistance. Dental pain can be extremely severe, especially for children."

Thanks to donations and sponsors, her association has already treated over 700 children in Mongolia since its founding in 2016. Healthcare professionals also provide dental education in orphanages and schools in Mongolia's capital, Ulan Bator, and advocate for changing children's diets, which are "far too sugary." With volunteer dentists from abroad, she also traveled for six days to reindeer herders, the Tsaatans, to treat 350 children: this nomadic community lives isolated, at least a day's journey from the nearest dental clinic.

With her horse adventure project, Gaby hopes to raise more funds for the association and continue helping the children of the country she has fallen in love with.

Marion Biremon