Meet the world's longest and most difficult horse race. A colorful collection of seasoned equestrians and noble amateurs alike arrive in Mongolia and prepare to ride semi-wild horses for 1,000 kilometers across the Mongolian steppe.
The final day of training concludes, and over three dozen riders blast off boasting plenty of excitement and can-do spirit, but varying degrees of preparedness.
The first day of the race provides a steep learning curve for the riders. While some gallop off to an early lead, others drop out completely, and a few find themselves dangerously close to being disqualified.
Days two and three of the race bring freezing cold and rain, lost horses, and injuries galore. In addition to physical maladies, riders begin to feel the mental effects of so much solitude out on the steppe.
Another day of racing, another day of broken bones, exhausted equestrians, and close calls at the vet stations. One rider in particular rides right up to what the rules of the race allow. Cheeky.
Teammates split up, a horse gets sick (but he recovers - don't write letters!), and one rider at the very front of the pack receives a penalty that potentially devastates his chances of winning.
"It's fudging close" says one of the vets as our leaders approach the finish line. A penalty could dramatically change the final standings. "What the fudge!?" says the viewer during the nail-biting conclusion of the race.
The winners are crowned, while the losers ride on. Despite the scenic weather and views, problems continue to arise, with yet another rider facing the threat of disqualification - on the last day of the race.