Skijoring — a Sport with Real Horsepower By Kelly BerK,
rMr Staff Writer Spectators pack in closely
— mostly for entertainment, possibly for warmth — aiming to get a glimpse at the skier being pulled by a tow rope at- tached to a horse running at a full gallop, and flinging bits of snow into the air and back at the skier.
Equine skijoring, the timed
speed event gaining popular- ity around the United States, pairs agile, speed-bred horses with skilled skiers who maneu- ver their way over jumps and through slalom gates on either a straight, or U-shaped course. Another obstacle added at some tracks are rings hanging on a pole, which the rider or skier must grab during their timed run. Runs are scored by the fastest times, and missed jumps, gates or rings result in penalties (seconds added to the time) for skijoring teams.
Sanctioned races focus
on safety, requiring skiers to wear helmets, proper sun glasses or ski goggles, and ski boots that are fitted to the skier. Competitors must also use certified ropes to pull the skier. Depending on the
venue, some events will give youngsters the opportunity to test out their skijoring skills in junior classes. Breeds built for speed
are favored by most ski- joring riders, including Quarter Horses, Appaloosas and Arabians, though a va- riety of breeds participate in the sport.
Horses that are trained in barrel racing and roping
With the high speed factor and pos-
sibility of crashing, injuring either horse, rider, or skier, skijoring can be considered an extreme winter sport for the adrenaline junkies who enjoy it.
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are popular due to their experience in quick starts and ability for maneuvering turns.
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