Imagine being dragged on skis
around a 900 foot course from a tow- rope attached to a galloping horse at 25
miles an hour. All the while screaming tailgaters cheering you on.
Congratulations. You’ve just been indoctrinated into the sport of skijoring.
Originally developed in the Scandinavian countries as a form of transportation,
skijoring has morphed into a popular western sport. It is an unusual
combination of western and Norwegian traditions, often blending teams of
‘old-time western cowboys’ with ‘modish’ skiers, negotiating through an outer
snow-covered slalom course with gates and jumps on skies, and an often muddy
inner course by the horse. The race is timed. The horse gallops around the
inside of the track, pulling the skier who grabs onto a rope. The fastest times
go home with the trophy. As a chiropractor, it is difficult not to
recognize the absolute necessity for my professional skills, both for the skier
and the HORSE! Navigating muddy or icy turns at high speeds can often result in crashes. However, despite the wipe-outs, it is definitely a
winter adventure sport unlike any other. The skijoring circuit passes through
communities throughout the west, including Wyoming ,
Colorado and Montana ,
and Red Lodge Montana
