Weston Equestrian Rides for Type 1 Diabetes

Weston resident Ross Colbert awed Kiwanians, guests, and supporters at the Kiwanis Club of Weston meeting on Saturday, October 19, 2024. Ross recounted his participation in the 2024 Mongol Derby – the Longest Horse Race in The World this past August. The race is 1,000 kilometers (621.73 miles) across the Mongolian steppes and wilderness, riding for 9-10 days and navigating only by GPS. The course recreates the horse messenger system developed by Genghis Khan in 1224.

Ross, now a recognized equestrian endurance rider, is also an avid surfer, skier and mountain biker and loves any extreme outdoor adventure. His participation resulted in more than satisfying his self-challenge to finish, he raised over $15,000 for Breakthrough T1D™ (formerly Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) through the generosity of individual sponsors and donations to his website, https://www.2024mongolderby.com/.

Ross, dressed in his deel, traditional Mongolian national costume, shows The Genghis Khan Equestrian Statue. The stainless steel statue of Genghis Khan on horseback is the world’s tallest equestrian statue is located about a mile from the Tuul River at Tsonjin Boldog, 34 miles east of the Mongolian capital Ulaanbaatar, where, according to legend, he found a golden whip. The statue is symbolically pointed east towards his birthplace. It is on top of the Genghis Khan Statue Complex, a visitor center, 33 feet tall with 36 columns representing the 36 khans from Genghis to Ligdan Khan. [1]

Photograph contributed by Amy Colbert.

Video from MONGOL DERBY The longest & toughest horse race in the world 7th Aug – 17th Aug 2024 accessed 2024-10-23.

[1] after https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equestrian_statue_of_Genghis_Khan accessed 2024-10-23.

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