This blog post was originally written by the Dutch user Asterope @ www.myhorsez.com/nl/ and translated by HorseloverMargaux

Skijøring
How nice that you clicked on this blog. Have fun reading and I hope you learn something new!

What is Skijøring?
Skijøringis a sport that originated in Scandinavian countries. The sport combines skiing or snowboarding with horse riding or dogs as pullers. Participants are pulled while racing through the snow on skis or a snowboard, attached to the animal via a harness and a drawstring.

The sport requires specific equipment for both the participant and the animal, such as skis, a harness, a drawstring and, for horse skijøring, often adapted saddles and harnesses.

Different types of Skijøring
Skijøring has different forms, such as horse skijøring, dog skijøring and variants with motorised vehicles. Participants must use their agility and balance to remain stable while being pulled, with good cooperation and communication between the participant and theanimal being crucial.

Skijøring competitions are held worldwide, with participants competing for speed, agility and precision. Safety is important when practising this sport, with correct use of equipment and animal training to ensure a safe and responsible experience.


Horse skijøring
Image source: Tibor Menyhért via Wikimedia commons

Horse skijøring
Horse skijøring requires special saddles and harness sets to ensure that the horse can pull comfortably and that the sport is safe. The combination of the horse and the skier's agility produces exciting races!

Communication between the skier and the horse is essential. Good cooperation and understanding between the two parties are crucial to controlling speed, making turns and avoiding obstacles. This requires a strong bond between the participant and the horse, based on trust and training.

In horse skijøring, strong breeds are often used, such as the Norwegian Fjord or Swedish Ardenner. But Quarter Horses are also often used, because of their strength and agility.

How nice that you read this blog! Did you learn something new?

Image source thumbnail: Uusi Suomi via Wikimedia commons