Grace Netter, Oaks Christian alumna, likes to say she was “born riding.” Long before she could fully understand it, her love for horses was already taking shape, nurtured by her equestrian mother who brought her along on rides. By fifth grade, Grace was riding regularly, building a foundation that would carry her through her years at Oaks Christian, where she competed in dressage on the school’s equestrian team during her junior and senior years.
After graduating, Grace followed a different creative path, earning a degree in design and communication from Belmont University and stepping into the fast-paced world of film. Today, she works as a senior visual effects coordinator on major feature films, collaborating with studios like Disney, Netflix, Warner Brothers and Universal. While her professional life revolves around cameras, compositing software and 3D modeling, the pull of the saddle never left her.
That enduring passion led her to one of the most grueling challenges imaginable: the Mongol Derby, widely considered the longest and toughest horse race in the world. Stretching 625 miles across the vast and untamed Mongolian steppe, the race re-creates the ancient postal routes of Genghis Khan. Riders navigate using only GPS coordinates, changing semi-feral horses every few miles, enduring up to 12 hours a day in the saddle through mountains, valleys, dunes and bogs—all in extreme and unpredictable weather. It is as raw and demanding as it sounds, and many who begin the race never finish.
Grace first learned about the Derby in 2017 and was immediately captivated. Though she initially postponed her attempt to participate so that she could focus on launching her film career, the dream never faded. Years later, she applied again and was selected from hundreds of applicants for the 2025 race—an opportunity she embraced as her 30th birthday adventure. For Grace, the race was about more than endurance; it was deeply personal. Born 2 months premature and once a timid rider, she saw the Derby as a way to prove to herself just how far she had come.
What followed was an experience that tested every limit. Each horse brought uncertainty—some bucked, some bolted, others resisted entirely. Navigation was equally demanding, requiring her to chart her own course across unforgiving terrain with only a straight-line GPS as a guide. Days began before dawn and ended in exhaustion, with little sleep, no modern comforts and constant physical strain. She rode through heat, cold, rain and hail, often alone in the wilderness, facing everything from aggressive dogs to dangerous terrain—and even moments where staying on her horse felt like a matter of survival.
There were times she nearly quit. On Day 6, shaken by a difficult horse and adrenaline that wouldn’t subside, she considered dropping out. Later, on Day 9, she rode through excruciating pain, unaware that she had completely torn one ankle and partially torn the other. Yet each time doubt crept in, she chose to keep going—one more leg, one more mile, one more attempt.
Ten days after it began, Grace crossed the finish line as the final rider to complete the race—27 out of the original 45. Waiting for her at the end were the other riders, cheering her on as she arrived. Overcome with emotion, she crossed the line in tears, realizing a dream years in the making.
For her perseverance, Grace was awarded the Derby’s “Keep Buggering On” honor, recognizing her extraordinary grit and determination. But for Grace, the lessons of the journey run deeper. She reflects on how every riding experience throughout her life prepared her for that moment, and how the race taught her to slow down, take things piece by piece, and appreciate the beauty around her—even in the hardest circumstances.
She also carries with her a profound appreciation for Mongolia and its people, whose hospitality and deep-rooted horse culture left a lasting impression. In a land largely untouched by modernity, she found both challenge and connection, often relying on the kindness of local herders who welcomed her into their homes without hesitation.
Now, as she faces recovery from her injuries, Grace is already looking ahead. While she may never take on another race quite like the Mongol Derby, her adventurous spirit remains. With a goal of riding on every continent, she has just two left to conquer. And alongside those ambitions, she looks forward to a new chapter—marriage to her supportive fiancé and a return to the saddle when she’s healed.
"Long before she could fully understand it, her love for horses was already taking shape..."