1 ZANDANSHATAR GOMBOJAV APPOINTED AS PRIME MINISTER OF MONGOLIA WWW.MONTSAME.MN PUBLISHED:2025/06/13      2 WHAT MONGOLIA’S NEW PRIME MINISTER MEANS FOR ITS DEMOCRACY WWW.TIME.COM PUBLISHED:2025/06/13      3 ULAANBAATAR DIALOGUE SHOWS MONGOLIA’S FOREIGN POLICY CONTINUITY AMID POLITICAL UNREST WWW.THEDIPLOMAT.COM PUBLISHED:2025/06/13      4 THE UNITED NATIONS CHILDREN’S FUND (UNICEF) IN MONGOLIA, THE NATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR SUPPORTING THE BILLION TREES MOVEMENT, AND CREDITECH STM NBFI LLC HAVE JOINTLY LAUNCHED THE “ONE CHILD – ONE TREE” INITIATIVE WWW.BILLIONTREE.MN PUBLISHED:2025/06/13      5 NEW MONGOLIAN PM TAKES OFFICE AFTER CORRUPTION PROTESTS WWW.AFP.MN PUBLISHED:2025/06/13      6 GOLD, MINED BY ARTISANAL AND SMALL-SCALE MINERS OF MONGOLIA TO BE SUPPLIED TO INTERNATIONAL JEWELRY COMPANIES WWW.MONTSAME.MN PUBLISHED:2025/06/13      7 AUSTRIA PUBLISHES SYNTHESIZED TEXTS OF TAX TREATIES WITH ICELAND, KAZAKHSTAN AND MONGOLIA AS IMPACTED BY BEPS MLI WWW.ORBITAX.COM  PUBLISHED:2025/06/13      8 THE UNITED STATES AND MONGOLIA OPEN THE CENTER OF EXCELLENCE FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING IN ULAANBAATAR WWW.MN.USEMBASSY.GOV  PUBLISHED:2025/06/12      9 MONGOLIA'S 'DRAGON PRINCE' DINOSAUR WAS FORERUNNER OF T. REX WWW.REUTERS.COM PUBLISHED:2025/06/12      10 MONGOLIA’S PIVOT TO CENTRAL ASIA AND THE CAUCASUS: STRATEGIC REALIGNMENTS AND REGIONAL IMPLICATIONS WWW.CACIANALYST.ORG  PUBLISHED:2025/06/12      БӨӨРӨЛЖҮҮТИЙН ЦАХИЛГААН СТАНЦЫН II БЛОКИЙГ 12 ДУГААР САРД АШИГЛАЛТАД ОРУУЛНА WWW.MONTSAME.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2025/06/15     ОРОН СУУЦНЫ ҮНЭ 14.3 ХУВИАР ӨСЖЭЭ WWW.EGUUR.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2025/06/15     МОНГОЛ УЛСЫН 34 ДЭХ ЕРӨНХИЙ САЙДААР Г.ЗАНДАНШАТАРЫГ ТОМИЛЛОО WWW.MONTSAME.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2025/06/13     SXCOAL: МОНГОЛЫН НҮҮРСНИЙ ЭКСПОРТ ЗАХ ЗЭЭЛИЙН ХҮНДРЭЛИЙН СҮҮДЭРТ ХУМИГДАЖ БАЙНА WWW.ITOIM.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2025/06/13     МОНГОЛ БАНК: ТЭТГЭВРИЙН ЗЭЭЛД ТАВИХ ӨР ОРЛОГЫН ХАРЬЦААГ 50:50 БОЛГОЛОО WWW.EGUUR.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2025/06/13     МОНГОЛ ДАХЬ НҮБ-ЫН ХҮҮХДИЙН САН, ТЭРБУМ МОД ҮНДЭСНИЙ ХӨДӨЛГӨӨНИЙГ ДЭМЖИХ САН, КРЕДИТЕХ СТМ ББСБ ХХК “ХҮҮХЭД БҮРД – НЭГ МОД” САНААЧИЛГЫГ ХАМТРАН ХЭРЭГЖҮҮЛНЭ WWW.BILLIONTREE.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2025/06/13     ЕРӨНХИЙЛӨГЧИЙН ТАМГЫН ГАЗРЫН ДАРГААР А.ҮЙЛСТӨГӨЛДӨР АЖИЛЛАНА WWW.EAGLE.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2025/06/13     34 ДЭХ ЕРӨНХИЙ САЙД Г.ЗАНДАНШАТАР ХЭРХЭН АЖИЛЛАНА ГЭЖ АМЛАВ? WWW.EGUUR.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2025/06/13     “АНГЛИ ХЭЛНИЙ МЭРГЭШЛИЙН ТӨВ”-ИЙГ МУИС-Д НЭЭЛЭЭ WWW.MONTSAME.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2025/06/13     Г.ЗАНДАНШАТАР БАЯЛГИЙН САНГИЙН БОДЛОГЫГ ҮРГЭЛЖЛҮҮЛНЭ ГЭЖ АМЛАЛАА WWW.EGUUR.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2025/06/12    

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MBCC “Doing Business with Mongolia seminar and Christmas Receptiom” Dec 10. 2024 London UK MBCCI London UK Goodman LLC

NEWS

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From Uranium to Democracy: Macron's Visit To Mongolia Explores Diverse Prospect www.mongoliaweekly.org

French President Emanuelle Macron's visit to Mongolia on March 21, 2023, holds significant implications across political, economic, social, and foreign relations spheres. The visit highlights Mongolia's geostrategic importance and France's aim to strengthen its presence in East Asia through the Indo-Pacific Strategy, while also seeking stable uranium sources for its nuclear energy sector.
During the visit, Macron aimed to accelerate operations of the joint venture Badrakh Energy, formed by French multinational Orano and Mongolia's MonAtom, which explores and mines uranium in Mongolia. This partnership would secure a uranium supply for France's nuclear reactors, generate jobs and revenue for Mongolia, and enhance bilateral cooperation. The Mongolian-French joint statement mentioned that a mining investment agreement between Mongolia and Orano would be negotiated and signed later this year unlocking multi-billion dollar Zuuvch Ovoo uranium deposit in Gobi.
However, the development of uranium mining in Mongolia presents challenges and risks, including environmental concerns and community opposition. Previous involvement of Orano (formerly Areva) has raised public backlash, necessitating community engagement through funding local development, education, healthcare, and scholarships.
Macron's visit to Mongolia also holds significance for his foreign policy vision and Europe's pursuit of strategic autonomy. By fostering partnerships beyond traditional alliances, Macron's approach may influence European dynamics in the Asia-Pacific region, shaping Mongolia's position within this context.
Expanding cooperation with France in sectors like green energy and culture can bring economic benefits and international partnerships. However, it is crucial to ensure that uranium mining aligns with sustainable practices and addresses social and environmental concerns.
As Mongolia and France navigate challenges and resistance in their uranium mining endeavors, striking a balance between economic opportunities and social-environmental considerations will be vital for long-term success and sustainable partnership.
Author of this blog is Amar Adiya, Editor-in-Chief of Mongolia Weekly newsletter and a policy and politics analyst.
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Assets of State-owned Companies Increased 2.8 Times in the Last Five Years www.montsame.mn

“GDP of Mongolia amounts to MNT 52.9 trillion, while total assets of state-owned enterprises and companies equal MNT 59.2 trillion,” underlined Minister of Mongolia and Head of the Government Secretariat D. Amarbayasgalan. “Although the state-owned enterprises’ assets increased in the last five years by 2.8 times, the annual profit equals MNT 2.1 trillion, which is relatively low compared to the business sector.”
He pointed out during a discussion held at the Mongolian National Chamber of Commerce and Industry on May 25 that the participation and share of state-owned enterprises and companies in the free market economy has been still increasing thus occupying the position of the private sector.
As a legal entity, the number of state-owned companies was 104 in 2021 and 105 in 2022, whilst the current number of state-owned companies accounts for 98, excluding state-owned enterprises under the ministries. These are the companies that are part of the structure and composition of "Erdenes Mongolia" LLC, a group of state-owned mining companies and the Government Agency for Policy Coordination on State Property.
Among them:
• 45 are profitable,
• 53 operate unprofitably.
Out of the total annual profit of MNT 2.1 trillion earned by all state-owned companies, "Erdenet” and "Erdenes Tavantolgoi" companies contribute MNT 1.9 trillion. Therefore, the discussion covered the topic of how state-owned companies could focus on profitable operations.
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Archbishop Gallagher in Mongolia www.vaticannews.va

The Vatican Secretary for Relations with States and International Organisations is in Mongolia for a 3-day visit ending on 6 June.
Twenty-four hours after the announcement by the Vatican Press Office of the apostolic journey that will see Pope Francis in Mongolia between 31 August and 4 September, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher set off for the Asian country. This mission, which has been on the agenda for some time, is part of the framework of bilateral relations between the Holy See and Mongolia. It is scheduled to wrap up on Tuesday.
Mass and meeting with missionaries
The Secretariat of State outlined Archbishop Gallagher’s schedule in a tweet explaining that the first event on his calendar was a concelebration of the Eucharist in the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in Ulaanbaatar, the country's capital, followed by a meeting with the local missionary community.
Meetings with Mongolian leaders
On Monday the Vatican Secretary for Relations with States and with International Organizations is engaged series of meetings with Mongolian authorities, including the Foreign Minister, Mrs Batmunkh Battsetseg and the country’s Premier, Luvsannamsrain Oyun-Erden.
Tuesday's scheduled engagements will see the Vatican representative in talks with Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khürelsükh before visiting the Chinggis Khan National Museum, a modern building inaugurated last year that exhibits more than 12,000 historical artefacts offer a wide-ranging perspective on Genghis Khan's empire and subsequent ones.
 
 
 
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Sumo: New ozeki Kirishima makes long-awaited trip home to Mongolia www.english.kyodonews.net

Ozeki Kirishima departed Narita airport near Tokyo on Monday to visit his native Mongolia following his promotion to sumo's second-highest rank.
The 27-year-old, who wrestled under the ring name Kiribayama before becoming an ozeki last month, had not returned to Mongolia for four years because of pandemic travel restrictions.
"It's really great," said Kirishima. "I'm going to see family, relatives and friends I haven't seen in a long time, so I want to take my time catching up with everyone."
The Spring Grand Sumo Tournament winner returns home as the sixth Mongolian-born wrestler to achieve the esteemed rank, second only to yokozuna.
He was promoted after a string of strong results including an 11-4 finish at the most recent Summer Grand Sumo Tournament at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan.
Kirishima plans to travel from Wednesday to his home town in Dornod province, some 700 kilometers east of the capital Ulaanbaatar, where he is set to receive a warm welcome home.
"It might be a bit like a small festival," he said.
The 186-centimeter, 143-kilogram wrestler could only secure an economy class plane ticket after booking his trip at short notice, but said he was able to get a seat with enough room.
He is scheduled to return to Japan on June 14 and plans to take part in the Arashio stable's training camp in central Japan's Nagano Prefecture in preparation for the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament starting July 9.
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KHARKHORUM - Prepare to Enter the Uncharted World www.montsame.mn

Kharkhorum Music Festival will be held for the second year at Steppe Arena on June 10 under the theme of “Eclipse.” This year, the festival is proud to host the first-ever performance in Mongolia by Nina Kraviz, a highly acclaimed DJ and producer known for her mastery of techno music.
Joining Nina Kraviz on stage will be an impressive lineup of artists, including the legendary Ben Frost, Dopplereffekt, and Alex Wilcox, as well as Mongolian DJs "Mara b2b TMK" and "NOMTII."
KHARKHORUM Chapter 2 will be a fascinating collaboration of electronic music and digital arts that will take you to the uncharted world of Spanish artist Efren Mur through an unprecedented large-scale LED screen installation.
Get ready to be captivated as the moon gracefully glides across the sun, enveloping the day in an enchanting eclipse and immersing you in a breathtaking spectacle.
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Mongolia has welcomed over 216,000 foreign tourists so far in 2023 www.xinhuanet.com

Mongolia has welcomed 216,668 foreign tourists so far this year, with Russia and China being the biggest source of arrivals, the country's Ministry of Environment and Tourism said Monday.
The Mongolian government has been taking measures to revive the pandemic-hit tourism sector. In January, it exempted citizens of 34 countries from visa requirements for up to 30 days until the end of 2025 for tourism purposes, bringing the total number of visa-free countries to 61.
The country has also classified 2023, 2024 and 2025 as "Years to Visit Mongolia" and is expected to organize more than 90 events in 2023 to promote tourism.
Mongolia sees tourism as the most viable way to diversify its economy. It has set a goal of welcoming at least 1 million foreign tourists and earning 1 billion U.S. dollars from tourism in the coming years.
The country received 290,400 foreign tourists in 2022, earning 350 million dollars from the tourism sector.
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Goal Set to Attain USD 100 Million Worth Trade Turnover www.montsame.mn

The Second Meeting of the Consultative Body on Bilateral Cooperation between Thailand and Mongolia was held in Bangkok on June 2.
Minister of Environment and Tourism of Mongolia B. Bat-Erdene and Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs of Thailand Vijavat Isarabhakdi co-chaired the Meeting. During the meeting, the parties discussed ways to strengthen Mongolian-Thai cooperation in the five areas under the Mongolia-Thailand Five-Year Work Plan for Cooperation (2022-2027), namely trade, investment, tourism and culture, agriculture, and technical cooperation. Moreover, the discussion covered some issues related to the preparations to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Mongolia and Thailand in 2024 through high-level visits and cultural events.
Under the Mongolia-Thailand Five-Year Work Plan for Cooperation (2022-2027), both sides reiterated their will to cooperate in attaining USD 100 million worth of trade turnover and USD 1.5 billion worth of investment.
With the Government of Mongolia declaring 2023 through 2025 the "Years to Visit Mongolia," both sides agreed on organizing tourism events in Thailand to promote Mongolia and attract tourists, launching direct flights between Mongolia and Thailand starting in June, arranging visits by Thailand’s tour operators to Mongolia, and concluding relevant cooperation documents.
In regards to commemorating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Mongolia and Thailand in 2024, a series of high-level visits and cultural events are expected, including a Visit by Princess Chulabhorn of the Kingdom of Thailand to Mongolia, cultural days and online round tables between researchers and scientists of the two countries.
The Mongolian side expressed delight at receiving H. E Princess Chulabhorn in Mongolia and agreed to conclude relevant cooperation documents between the two countries during the high-level visits that will take place in the near future.
For the Thai side, they affirmed their support for the “One Billion Trees” and “Food Supply and Security” National campaigns, initiated by the President of Mongolia, and their intention to continue the “Lunch Program”, which is being implemented under the auspices of H. E. Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of the Kingdom of Thailand for the secondary school students of Mongolia.
The sides agreed to organize the next or 3rd Meeting of the Consultative Body on Bilateral Cooperation in Ulaanbaatar in 2024.
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New U.S. Assistance to Strengthen Mongolia’s Capacity to Prepare for Natural Hazards www.usaid.gov

The U.S. government, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), commenced a new two-year, $600,000 project to strengthen Mongolia’s capacity to prepare for natural hazards.
The “Sustainably Strengthening Local Disaster Capacity and Preparedness” project, implemented in partnership with the Mongolian Red Cross Society (MRCS), will help at-risk communities improve their resilience to natural hazards such as droughts, forest fires, and dzuds—harsh winter conditions that can lead to large-scale livestock deaths.
The project will train volunteers from ten Red Cross branches in disaster risk reduction, helping them establish disaster response teams, bolstering pre-positioned relief stocks, and training and equipping community fire-fighting teams. Through the partnership, MRCS will also train herder groups on disaster risk reduction and animal shelter repair to reduce the impact of dzuds. Finally, the project will share best business management practices, as well as facilitate a small grants program to assist herders in developing new ideas to diversify incomes.
Exacerbating the impact of disasters, climate change is impacting Mongolia at an alarming rate. In some areas, snow and permafrost have been melting with unprecedented speed, while in others, more severe winters have reduced rangeland vegetation, leaving less land for livestock to graze. A decline in forest cover has also increased the magnitude and severity of dust storms. This project will help Mongolia’s most at-risk communities be more resilient to these deteriorating conditions.
This project complements USAID’s ongoing “Disaster Resilient Communities” project led by World Vision, which is improving emergency response, first aid and disaster planning, as well as strengthening field veterinary services and animal disease prevention measures. Since 2010, USAID has provided approximately $6.7 million to support disaster risk reduction programs in Mongolia.
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Solar beats coal in Europe for first time – but there’s a glitch www.bloomberg.com

The European Union’s transition to clean energy marked a milestone in May, when solar panels generated more electricity than all of the bloc’s coal plants for the first time — and that’s before summer sun boosts production even further.
While the furious expansion of solar generation bodes well for efforts to replace fossil fuels, the breakthrough also exposed flaws in the energy system. Power prices turned negative during some of May’s sunniest days as grid operators struggled to handle the surge.
“This summer will be something we’ll have to look at like it’s a postcard from the future,” said Kesavarthiniy Savarimuthu, analyst at BloombergNEF. “The biggest message will be: we’re not ready.”
Solar beats coal in Europe for first time - but there’s a glitch
Although solar was a fast and easy solution to respond to last year’s energy crisis triggered by Russia’s moves to squeeze natural gas supplies, the downside is the technology is best in sunny months when demand is typically lower. Systems to store that energy in batteries or by creating green hydrogen aren’t advanced enough to allow summer sun to keep lights on at night or help heat homes in the winter.
Nowhere is the solar boom — and the adjustment risks — clearer than in the Netherlands. There are over 100 megawatts of solar panels for every 100,000 Dutch residents, double the deployment of sunny Spain and more than triple the rate in China — by far the global leader in total solar capacity.
The Netherlands’ claim to the densest solar network on Earth is thanks largely to long-running government support. The program rewards households for installing solar panels, with every watt of electricity offsetting energy bills, regardless of whether usage matches up with the sunniest parts of the day.
“The Dutch government did this to stimulate solar panels, but it’s a little too successful,” said Jorrit de Jong, spokesman at Dutch electric grid operator TenneT, who has seven roof-top solar panels that produce at least 80% of his annual household electricity consumption. “If I do my laundry or charge my car at moments when there isn’t sun, it doesn’t matter for me because I get paid by my energy company.”
The government in the Netherlands plans to change the system starting in 2025. Under new rules, households that send power back to the grid would be able to deduct a declining amount from their annual bill. By 2031, producers would only benefit from power they actually consume and not get compensated for any excess.
Across Europe, people are following the Dutch example. Since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, installations of solar panels in the EU have accelerated. In May, production rose 10% compared to the previous year to reach a record 27 terawatt hours.
In contrast to wind, hydro or geothermal power, solar has a key advantage of being quick to install. All it takes is an incentive for homeowners or property companies to turn roofs into mini energy parks. But electricity grids were set up around massive generators that could work in tandem with grid operators to keep networks balanced. A more distributed system is harder to manage and will be tested in earnest this summer.
While record solar and wind production have helped drive out coal and gas plants at an impressive rate this year, the EU still has a long way to go to reach its goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. Germany is under even more pressure, with Europe’s biggest power market aiming for a decarbonized grid by 2035. Getting there will require not only a massive expansion of clean energy, but also changes that better align consumption with generation.
Solar Beats Coal in Europe for First Time - But There’s a Glitch
There are already signs of a mismatch between supply and demand. Last weekend, electricity prices turned negative at times as solar output hit a record in Germany, Europe’s biggest producer. Negative prices aren’t unheard of and are typically linked to strong wind generation at night or on weekends when demand is thin.
When there’s a surge in power, suppliers have to pay consumers to use electricity. It doesn’t mean 100% of the power is coming from renewables. Some conventional plants can’t flexibly switch on and off or are required to run to maintain grid stability.
Increasing price swings and persistent low or negative rates during peak production periods for renewable power could put further investment at risk, according to Axel Thiemann, chief executive officer of Sonnedix, one of Europe’s biggest solar developers.
Since the end of 2021, Sonnedix has roughly doubled its pipeline of European projects, but Thiemann warned development will get more difficult without changes to how power is managed.
“As more investment gets realized, the grid will get more and more saturated during certain parts of the day in the summer,” he said in an interview. “Even if you have unlimited amounts of solar projects that are permitted, they will not be built unless there’s a clear route to market.”
Better coping with the ebb and flow of renewable generation will require a new kind of flexibility in the power system, which wasn’t necessary when all electricity came from a few giant fossil fuel and nuclear plants that could be turned up or down depending on demand.
“Our current power system wasn’t planned for these kinds of flexibility needs,” said Thorsten Lenck, project manager at Berlin-based think tank Agora Energiewende.
There are various ways to adapt. Batteries connected to the grid could use power during the sunniest or windiest parts of the day to sell when renewables aren’t producing as much. Consumers could also be incentivized to use power during times of peak production. That could be particularly important as more electric vehicles hit the roads and households switch from traditional boilers to heat pumps.
“We’re going to have an unprecedented amount of solar production this summer and it tends to increase the volatility in power prices,” said Joke Steinwart, analyst at Aurora Energy Research. “This presents big opportunities for flexible technologies like batteries.”
(By William Mathis)
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Rochester woman in Mongolia for Gobi Gallop, world's longest charity horse ride www.fosters.com

As a lifelong horsewoman, Christina Keim has ridden long distances on horseback before.
She’s ridden a mule down the Grand Canyon’s Bright Angel Trail, horse packed to visit mustangs in the Eastern Sierras of California and twice completed the three-day 100-mile distance ride at the Green Mountain Horse Association.
But nothing compares to her current equine challenge, the Gobi Gallop, the world’s longest charity horseback ride across Mongolia. Alternating between two Mongolian horses, she will cover 500 miles in 10 days in support of the Veloo Foundation, which supports disadvantaged children in the country’s capital.
Keim, 46, left for Mongolia on May 30 and will begin the ride June 2. This year’s route will cross rivers, go over mountains and along the Mongolian steppe as the horses and riders leave from the wilds of Sukhbaatar Province and finish up outside Ulaanbaatar, the capital of the country which is bordered by China and Russia.
“It’s the adventure,” Keim said of what attracted her to the ride. “It’s not something anyone I know has ever done or experienced. For me, that just sounds like a thrill.”
She is also eager to support the Veloo Foundation’s Children of the Peak Project and hopes to raise $10,000 for the nonprofit.
Experienced equestrian based in Rochester
Keim is a longtime professional equestrian who owns Cold Moon Farm in Rochester. She is also the president of the New Hampshire Horse Council. She’s been an avid distance rider for the past decade, initially getting into the sport when she had a horse that didn’t fit the traditional show ring mold.
“I really love to ride out,” she said. “I think you can see and experience some pretty amazing things on horseback that you wouldn’t get the opportunity to enjoy when you visit in other ways.”
The type of conditioning necessary to participate in long-distance rides led to a different type of relationship with her horses.
“In the process of getting ready and doing your rides, you spend so much time with your animal that you get to know them pretty intimately. It’s a real true partnership,” she said. “When we’re successful, knowing it happened because of our partnership is a pretty powerful feeling.”
What led her to the Gobi Gallop
The germ of her desire to ride in the Gobi Gallop began during the coronavirus pandemic when she finally read that stack of books on her bedside table. Several of the books centered on the theme of how horses have influenced the development of civilization and the role they fill in the world now.
“In every single book there was some fairly significant attention paid to the horse culture of Mongolia,” she said.
Like others, Keim’s impression of Mongolia was the history with savages like Genghis Khan, which didn’t track with what she was learning. “As I read more, it seemed like this was a great example of how the history we’ve been taught didn’t accurately reflect the history that actually occurred,” she said.
She turned to the internet to look up more about the role of the horse in Mongolia and came across information about the Gobi Gallop. That ride is not to be confused with the Mongol Derby, which is better known because of a memoir about the race, and much more intense. In that, the horses are “mostly feral” and the riders hang on and survive. “I decided that was a little too much adventure for me,” she said.
To take part in the Gobi Gallop, she had to apply, submit three references, and go through a Zoom video conference interview with the founder of the ride. Keim asked about the type of horses she would be riding after observing the somewhat wild horses in the Mongol Derby.
“These horses are owned by a family, and this is how they’re making their living by providing safer mounts for people who would like to come learn about the horse culture of Mongolia,” she said. “They are rugged, sturdy creatures. They are, I’m sure, tough as nails.”
How Keim prepared for 500-mile ride
The horses are exercised year-round to prepare for the ride. Keim took the winter off from riding and has been back in the saddle since mid-March. “We will find out how prepped I am,” she joked. “I’ve been trying to spend as much time in the tack as possible.”
She’s been riding two to four hours a day and doing regular yoga to prepare. “I like the stretching and the centering and the alignment, but I think also yoga has taught me you can do hard things, and you’re probably going to get through it,” she said, adding, “It might be uncomfortable.”
Her past training for distance riding with her own horses has taught her that there is a mindset to this style of riding. “I don’t run but I would imagine it’s similar to what a distance runner does; you get into a state of being,” she said.
Keim connected with riders who have done the ride in an online chat group to get a sense of what to expect. “I’m told by folks that have done the ride before that day three is the low point,” she said.
They said the first day is filled with excitement, the second day you’re still propelled by adrenaline, but on the third day, you start to get sore. “And you’re kind of wondering what you’re doing out there,” she said. “If you can get through day three, then you feel like you can do it forever.”
She hopes her ride will raise awareness of another side to the country. “I think it’s important for us to remember how small the world really is,” she said. “Even though I will literally be on the opposite side of the globe, I think the connection of horseman to horseman is going to make it feel like home.”
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