A Little Bit About Me.
My name is Maggie, I am 25 years old and live in Central Virginia. I attended the University of Kentucky where I graduated with a dual degree in Equine Science and Business Management in 2020. During my time at the University of Kentucky, I played on the University’s club polo team, and galloped racehorses six days a week while sometimes attending class. Towards the end of my senior year at University I decided I no longer wanted to pursue a career in the thoroughbred industry. Although a tough decision, I knew it was the right one for me. That following spring I moved to Virginia to pursue a career in Real Estate with Core Real Estate based in Charlottesville, Virginia. It was a big change, but I was fortunate enough to end up in “the best of both worlds” and now work for a real estate firm that also has a Polo Team. (Sometimes we spend more time playing polo than working). However, after deciding I no longer wanted to attempt to ride flat races as a professional jockey I wanted to do something that put my riding skills to the test. Which has brought me to the Mongol Derby. Kind of makes sense? I know nothing about endurance racing, but can stay on.
PC: George Adams 2017 | Fair Hill Training Center
I began riding horses at age 2. My horseback riding career since follows a path that is far from linear. Have you ever heard of the phrase “A Jack of all Trades but a Master at None?”. I couldn’t think of a better way to describe myself and my riding experience and ability.
People often ask, “well what discipline did you do?” This is a question that is hard to answer. There wasn’t just one discipline that we did at my farm, or the training barn I rode at. We did all of them, thanks to my trainer growing up Ms. Amy.
You name it, We did it.
We would go on long group trail rides that included jumping over ditches, going down steep hills, jumping fallen down trees, and racing up hills. We rode bareback, played red light green light, fox and the hound, and many other fun games on horseback. We went to Hunter Shows, we fox-hunted., evented, did the pony races, rode the ponies no one else wanted to ride, and more.
Horses were all that mattered to me, and all I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I am what most would refer to as the ‘weird horse girl’. In fact for the majority of my life I was convinced I would become a jockey. I started working at a small thoroughbred operation in Monkton MD when I was 14 years old. Here I learned what it meant to work with young, fit horses, owned by wealthy owners. Everything mattered. Where you left the pitch fork, how tight your bridle was, how much pressure you applied to your bandages, swapping your diagonals when you warm up to ensure the horse is sound… I could list a thousand more things. The thing with horses is that you don’t learn by watching, or having a groom, you learn by doing it and doing it right, over and over again. The mornings were early as this small racing yard was a 45 minute drive from my house on winding roads. But I loved it, because I was finally doing something I always wanted to do. Working with racehorses. Racehorses are what took me to Lexington, KY. where I learned more than I could have ever imagined about riding and horsemanship (like if your horse wasn’t tacked in 10.5 seconds everyone would start yelling at you).
How it all Started…
Why In the World do you Want to Do This?
This is a question I am often asked. After reading about the race under “About the Derby” you may be asking the same question. However, I wanted to do something that would put all of the skills I have acquired over my 23 years of Horseback riding to the test. I also have always been someone who prefers to be outside and loves a challenge. After threatening to do the derby for the better part of four years, I made the commitment to do whatever I could to be a participant.. After long interviews, and various phone calls with several individuals on the other side of the world I was named a participant in the 2024 Mongolian Derby. However, when I decided to do the derby I was riding about 20-35 rogue horses, six days a week. Now I ride about 2-3 horses a day, when I feel like it, and they are quite nice. So will I be prepared? I have no idea.
