Sled dog breeds are bred to run.
Many years ago, The Chukchi people used teams of Eskimo Dogs and Huskies to haul heavy sleds loaded with furs and food.
Sled dog breeds have been used to haul sleds for many decades.
In 1925 Husky teams were used in a relay to get anti-toxin to the city of Nome. Many teams travelled a total of 1000 miles to get the serum safely across frozen tundra in hellish conditions to save the people plagued with diphtheria.
In 1973, Joe Redington, a musher from Alaska, had a dream. His dream came true when the Iditarod, a 1000 mile sled dog race, was born.
The race saw mushers and their sled dog teams compete against each other, running the same route as the mushers ran back in 1925 in the serum run.
The Iditarod has now become very well known and takes place annually on the first Saturday in March.
The 2022 race will mark the 50th anniversary.
There have been many great champions crowned over the years who have taken on and won the Iditarod.
Dallas Seavey is the only six time Iditarod Champion.
Libby Riddles was the first woman to be crowned Iditarod Champion.
Lance Mackey is the only musher in history to win the race four times in a row, from 2007 to 2010.
My favourite musher, Dallas Seavey is not only a six time winner but the youngest musher to win the Iditarod.
Here in the UK as we don’t get a lot of snow, mushers compete in dry land mushing using a three wheel rig to work their team.
From September to January, sled dog rallies are held in forests around the country with the biggest race being held in Aviemore, Scotland every January.
Some sled dog owners don’t necessarily compete professionally but just run their dogs in harness, because sled dogs love to run.
I’ve enjoyed running dogs from a young age on my scooter. I ran my mums dogs until my own kennel was established in 2014.
I have to say I much prefer the sled to the rig. Its just a shame we don’t get much snow here in the UK.
