At start camp, the riders receive hands-on training with the very tough and semi-wild Mongolian horses that live in herds throughout most of the year and haven't changed much since the days of Chinggis Khan.
After a fast and dramatic race start — with the first two casualties taken off the field by medevac within the first hour — 22-year-old American rider Devan Horn takes an early lead, which she manages to retain for five days.
The most experienced horseman in the field, South African horse whisperer Monde Kanyana, isn't as driven by the chance of winning as he is interested in learning about Mongolian horsemanship.
Irish jockeys Donie Fahy and Richie Killoran form fast friendships early on with British racehorse trainer Charlotte Treleaven and American firefighter Julie Youngblood.
The race depicted on All The Wild Horses throws up many twists and turns as the days tick by — down to the winner eventually being decided by a veterinarian penalty handed down to one of the front runners.
"[2] The film was shot over three years across large parts of Mongolia, from the ancient capital Kharakhorum of the Mongol Empire up to the northernmost tip at Khuvsgul Lake on the Russian border.
[4] Andrew Murray for The Upcoming writes, "A heart-pounding adventure across the Mongolian wilderness, All The Wild Horses is an incredible depiction of the unbridled human spirit and a captivating documentary.
"[6] Rich Cline of the film review website Shadows On The Wall opines that "The cinematography... is simply spectacular, capturing both the expansive landscapes and telling details about the competitors, their horses, the officials and the locals.