Introduction to skijoring

For horse riding lovers, it is always possible to have fun in winter. All you have to do is choose your skis and take your horse out. You are going to practice a special sport: skijoring. For the rules and different techniques of practice, continue reading.

The foreplay

To do skijoring, the first step as in any activity is the preliminary stage. At this level, the practitioner must ensure that they are in the right conditions, take the right steps and get into condition personally.

At first, you have to wait for the snow to fall properly. There must be enough to support the weight of the skis and the riders. This is the condition under which the horse will be able to drain all the weight behind it. The sliding experience will also be smoother with a feeling of wind on the face.

Next, it is important to ensure that the horse is in good condition. It must have the right posture and the perfect build to go straight ahead. At the hooves level, the blacksmith's work must be perfect enough to optimize its comfort. Thus, it will make the effort to move forward without staggering and without hesitating.

Finally, the choice of the frame is very important. Normally, it is enough to have enough strength in the arms to hold the rope of circumstances to practice in complete peace. However, it will be necessary to check the security of the course. You could inadvertently hit a stone and injure yourself. At the same time, the horse may find itself on an impractical relief which could cause injuries to it. To avoid reaching these extremes, the frame must have a very good reputation and respect the standards in force in the sub-region.

Accessories

The accessories for skijoring are generally the same as for simple skiing. To start, the skier must equip himself with gloves and hats to avoid getting cold. Leather or synthetic gloves are the best because they allow a solid and tenacious grip. If you can add a helmet, you will have the perfect equipment for a skijoring professional as a good skier. Don't forget that you also need a ski mask and very warm clothing. This will prevent you from reaching the stage of hypothermia.

At the same time, the horse should be dressed warmly, but not overloaded. It already has a weight to drag and putting it on should not become an additional element of effort. The lunge line, halter or side pull must be strong to prevent accidents from occurring during practice.

The tips

Skijoring is very dangerous when viewed from close up. It involves riding behind a horse at a crazy speed on the snow. The only link between you and the mount is the appropriate rope. The risk of an accident is too great. For this reason, when practicing, the best posture is to bend your knees slightly while holding the rope firmly. You should definitely not tie yourself up with it.