To gain entry as a competitor, each rider must demonstrate that their riding skills are strong enough to endure the harsh conditions of the race.
[4] The Mongol Derby similarly incorporates 25 horse stations and rest stops along a length of 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) through the Mongolian steppe.
[5] In addition to enduring the distance of the trek, some challenges faced by the participants include a high probability of injury associated with riding 25 different unfamiliar and "semi-wild" Mongol horses, travelling through remote and unmarked territory in a variety of landscapes, exposure to harsh elements, physical discomfort and exhaustion, and the rules of the race, such as restricted riding hours allowed each day.
[4][5][6][7] In 2016, the Mongol Derby ended in a three-way tie between William Comiskey of Australia; Heidi Telstad of Canada, and Marcia Hefker Miles of the United States.
The producer, Ivo Marloh, completed the Mongol Derby twice himself in order to get the footage needed for the film.