Warren Sutton finished fourth in the 2017 Mongol Derby.
© Warren Sutton
The pioneers’ Gaucho Derby is a 10-day, 500km multi horse adventure race in Patagonia, South America being held from 2-14 March 2020.
Thailand Maxwin’s horse educator, Warren Sutton, is one of 20 competitors, from six countries, who will be thundering deep into the wilds of Patagonia on horseback. With only a steed and, in some sections, a pack horse, Warren will be navigating across some of the wildest terrain on Earth attempting to win one of the toughest and most unusual equine challenges in history.
Even for an experienced horseman, this is no mean feat.
Working in all facets of the horse industry for 30 years, Warren knows winning means everything and has his eye firmly on the Gaucho Derby finish line, despite the challenge that lies ahead, he has the experience and skill to achieve this grand feat having finished a close fourth in the 2017 Mongol Derby.
From the creators of the Mongol Derby (featured in the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s longest and toughest horse race), the pioneers Gaucho Derby is an ultra-endurance horse race designed from the ground up – based on the landscape, culture, history and horses of Patagonia and the Gauchos. This is the greatest test of horsemanship and wilderness skills on Earth.
The mind-bending terrain in Patagonia makes this a race quite unlike anything else on the planet. It won’t just test skill on a horse but will push riders to the limit of their navigation skills, ability to handle the wilderness and their physical endurance.
Following graduation from Geelong’s Marcus Oldham College, Warren’s first foray into the horse industry was a 20-year stint with Lindsay Park during the Hayes (Colin, Peter & David Hayes and Tony McEvoy) dynasty. During his time with Lindsay Park he honed his skills as track rider, foreman, horse educator, assistant trainer and property manager to the thriving Euroa base in North East Victoria.
Warren has experience with thoroughbreds and warmbloods running his own business educating horses and people through parts of south-east Asia along with trading bloodstock.
His exceptional skill has taken him around the world, educating horses in Australia, Asia, South Africa, England and France. His expertise also extended to the horse film industry gaining on-set experience as a horse wrangler in four feature films and TV commercials.
Warren was recognised for his achievements winning the 2019 Godolphin Stud & Stable Staff Award in Horsemanship.
In recent years, Warren has rotated his time between starting young racehorses at Mitchell McEvoy’s Murbko property in South Australia and South East Asia.
Thailand’s leading horse feed brand Maxwin are Warren’s major sponsor for the race, in return he oversees various projects from implementing crowd control techniques for the mounted police in Bangkok and performing horsemanship/behavioural clinics countrywide. He also delivers horse welfare presentations to veterinary universities and has a busy schedule providing his expertise to private enterprises.
Warren’s initial invitation to Thailand was to educate warmbloods and soldiers for the Royal Thai Cavalry unit to be aimed at selection of Asian equestrian pursuits, to be coached by Olympic champion Andrew Hoy.
Ariat Australia have kindly sponsored Warren’s riding apparel, as they did for the Mongol Derby, and with a race into the elements like this one, Warren will need to be well prepared.
Warren’s experience at long-distanced riding will help as he tackles the gruelling Pioneer’s Gaucho Derby.
© Warren Sutton
The Gaucho Derby is a multi-horse race, but not in the same way the Mongol Derby. The race is broken down into 40km legs, but riders won’t be changing horses at every section. The high mountains are a test of skill not flat out speed, so the horses won’t run out of steam. The flatter pampas sections will see riders turning up the MPH to eat up the miles. For these sections’ riders will be swapping to fresh horses regularly.
As competitors will be riding large sections with a pack horse. As well as looking after and guiding the second steed riders have to switch mount mid leg to ensure the health of both animals by minimising the work.
The organisers will be monitoring the horses’ welfare at every stage with vet checks every 40km as well as race marshals, emergency and roaming vets to ensure that no rider puts their own competitiveness before the welfare of the animals. Riders will be tracked by satellite and we have a world class remote medical support team monitoring rider health and responding to emergencies.
Maxwin and Ariat have secured Warren’s place in the 2020 Gaucho Derby.
Thanks to Maxwin and Ariat’s sponsorship support for Warren’s place in the 2020 Gaucho Derby – you can follow Warren’s Gaucho Derby journey by visiting https://www.theadventurists.com/adventures/gaucho-derby/
Source: The Adventurists media release
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