"Mushing? What is mushing?" Those were the first words I uttered when I heard that term. Later they explained to me that it was something that was practiced in the snow where dogs pull a sled with a person on it. Immediately the image that described that word appeared in my mind, unknown to me but which, without knowing it, I knew very well.
And now that the season is approaching and the first flakes are baking in the cold of November, I have decided to do a little research on what today is considered a sport but which has been, and even is today in many places, a means of transport used for surfaces where snow makes it almost impossible to make certain journeys.
Mushing means "to run" or "let's go", a term of French origin for starting the march and for the dog team to begin pulling the sled. The one who gives orders and takes control of the sled is the musher.
These animals are usually of the husky breed, although other types of dogs with similar characteristics can be found. The speed reached on this sled means that anyone who wants to go from one end to the other can do so in just a few minutes.
While it is true that mushing, although it was something I was unaware of, has various modalities in which competitions are held, where two categories are usually added: those in which dogs of pure Nordic breeds participate and those that run another type of dogs. The modalities usually differentiate the musher's means of transport and the number of dogs that pull him. Thus you can find the following categories:
- Sled and Cart: are the most important of this sport where the musher is carried by a number of dogs that ranges between 6 and 12 while on board a sled with four wheels or skates.
- Canicros: the musher runs with the help of a single dog.
- BikeJöring: one or two dogs (or even more) help the musher who is on a scooter or bicycle.
- Tricycle: the musher rides a vehicle that has three wheels while it is pulled by 3 or 4 dogs.
- Skijöring: Cross-country skis are used in this modality and one or two dogs guide the musher.
I personally really like this type of dog mixed with wolf, I think it is a very beautiful and possessed of great nobility, as has been proven throughout history in numerous legends in which the wolf-man relationship has always been marked by a certain mysticism. Knowing that these dogs are ideal for practicing this sport was something most curious and comforting to me. He encouraged me to practice it one day.
I thought that they might suffer some type of damage when practicing this sport but my research let me know that it is just another way of exercising and that the animals enjoy their races. It is the perfect animal-man combination, as it allows the musher to get to know his dogs in depth and feel companionship, loyalty and fidelity while enhancing interaction with nature.
Without a doubt, it is a practice that I recommend to anyone who loves sports and nature, as it allows you to combine both hobbies that fit together perfectly.
I, without hesitation, when I have a space I will dare to practice it, and you? Check out the offers to practice mushing and dare to enjoy a sport that has been around for centuries.
