The Adventurists would like to respond to recent statements published online concerning the veterinary care for the horses taking part in the Mongol Derby, and to
clarify their relationship with the Mongolian veterinary NGO, Vet Net.

(Full statement is available here as a PDF:
http://theadventurists.com/files/newsreleases/MD09_Mongol_Derby_Veterinary_Update.pdf )

Horse welfare has always been at the top of the agenda for The Adventurists, and hence in November 2008 they contacted Vet Net, in order to seek advice on veterinary care for the 600 plus horses being ridden in the Mongol Derby.

The Adventurists would like to make clear that the two parties have been in regular contact since November 2008, by email, telephone and in person. Vet Net have consulted The Adventurists on the veterinary situation in Mongolia, on the availability of good quality medicines and on how best to provide veterinary care for the Mongol Derby horses. Vet Net also provided The Adventurists with the names and contact details of all their trained soum (village) vets along the Mongol Derby course.

According to an email from a representative of Vet Net to The Adventurists: “The soum veterinarians are well qualified veterinarians. They are private practising
veterinarians who have benefited from the world class drugs and equipment that we have been able to import and supply for them after they have received training in
their use.”

This network of Vet Net trained vets will be providing vet care for the Mongol Derby horses over the 1000 kilometre Mongol Derby. They will be checking the horses during their pre-race training, immediately before they start, and after they have
completed.

These Vet Net trained vets will be working in conjunction with a UK vet with 32 years of equine experience. This vet is being flown out to Mongolia especially for the Mongol Derby.

This UK vet will be following the race in one of the back-up emergency response vehicles. He will be equipped, as all the riders are, with a GPS spot tracker, and will
respond to any emergency situations that arise. He will be following the race with an equine vet from the Mongolian government’s Ministry of Agriculture, who is fully supportive of the Mongol Derby.

All vets, herders, horse breeders and trainers involved in the Mongol Derby are being well paid by The Adventurists for their involvement. Horse welfare and respect for the
Mongolian people and their culture is of the utmost importance to the organisers. The Adventurists hope that this information clarifies the recent confusion over Vet
Net’s association with the Mongol Derby, and looks forward to the first of many successful editions of the event.

To read the full statement please follow this link for the PDF:

http://theadventurists.com/files/newsreleases/MD09_Mongol_Derby_Veterinary_Update.pdf

If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact us directly.

All the best,

The Adventurists