Standing Ovation by Ovation Riding: Blue Wolf Totem Charity Ride
Every Friday, Horse Nation teams up with Ovation Riding to spotlight an individual or organization doing good work in the horse world. Today we recognize the Blue Wolf Totem Charity Ride.
The Blue Wolf Totem Charity Ride — an epic 3,600-kilometer charity ride across Mongolia — is set to take place in May of 2021. Fifteen riders from around the world — along with their Mongolian crew — will mount up on May 3rd, 2021 and head north from the Gobi Desert toward the ultimate destination — Altai Tavan Bogd Mountain, the heart of Mongolia.
Altai Mountains, West Mongolia. Photo from Canva/Halstenbach/CC
During the 84-day long ride, riders will cross desert, steppe, wilderness taiga, mountains, sand dunes and a variety of other terrain. Participants will ride between 20 and 70 miles a day with a rest day after each 10 days of riding.
Gobi desert horses. Photo from Canva/mbrand85/CC.
The ride is chock-full of history as it is set to leave from Khamariin Khiid, an ancient Buddhist shrine and an important Mongolian energy center located in the far South East of the Gobi Desert. The course will take riders through little-known historical sites, stunning vistas and significant places in Mongolian history.
The focus of the Blue Wolf Totem Ride is on the rich history of Mongolia, spanning from prehistoric times up to the present day. It will take riders to mountain shrines, famous and lesser-known historical spots celebrating the life and times of Genghis Khan, past shaman sites, sacred points and along rivers dotted with the burial shrines of ancient Mongolian warriors. Riders will also visit the Tsaatan, the last nomadic Reindeer riders, and the Kazakh eagle hunters of Western Mongolia.
Tsaatan mand and child, dressed in traditional deel. Photo from Canva/Katiekk2/CC.
Eagle hunter with golden eagle. Photo from Canva/muha04/CC.
Riders will have the opportunity to see deer stones and people stones (ancient megaliths carved with symbols) as well as visit remote caves containing some of the oldest cave paintings in the world. They will have the chance to visit the hideouts of 20th Century “Robin Hoods,” who stole horses from the rich and give them to the poor at the turn of the 20th Century.
Deer stone in Mongolia. Photo from Canva/bizoo_n/CC
The ride takes its name from the Mongolian legend in which the family of Genghis Khan — known as Chinggis Khan in Mongolia — sprang from the union of a blue wolf and a wild deer. It pays homage to the fact that Chinggis took the blue wolf as his totem.
This ride is the result of the long friendship between Baagii and Saraa of Horse Trek Mongolia and Julie Veloo of the Veloo Foundation, who have previously organized, managed and ridden in over 20,000 kilometers of charity rides across Mongolia. Together they have been hosting the Gobi Gallop — which, at 700 kms in 10 days of riding, rings in as the world’s longest annual charity endurance ride — for the past seven years.
Like the Gobi Gallop, the purpose of the Blue Wolf Totem Charity Ride is to raise awareness of and funds for the Veloo Foundation’s Children of the Peak Sanctuary Project/Narnii Huuhduud, which serves to feed, educate and care for nearly 1,000 children from Ulaanbaatar’s Ulaan Chuuluut garbage dump community.
The cost for this unparalleled 84-day ride is $14,500 USD plus a minimum $4000 USD contribution to the charity and a one-time registration fee of $750. The ride can be entered by an individual or, for a slight surcharge, by a two- or three-member team that would divide the riding between them.
For more information about the Blue Wolf Totem Charity Ride, visit http://www.horsetrekmongolia.com/the-blue-wolf-totem-charity-ride.html.
About the Veloo Foundation
The Veloo Foundation is a registered 501(c) 3 not for profit in the United States and registered Canadian charity and as such, qualified American or Canadian donors will receive a tax receipt for their charitable contributions in support of this ride.
Many thanks thanks to Ovation Riding for their support of both Horse Nation and individuals and organizations that are doing good work in the horse world. If you know someone who deserves a Standing Ovation, we would love to recognize them in a future post. Email the name of the person or organization along with a message about the good work they do to [email protected]. Photos/videos are always welcome, and include a link to their website if applicable.
