Literally defined, skijoring simply means “ski driving” and is commonly defined as being pulled on skis by an animal, motorized vehicle or other device. Equine skijoring refers to being pulled on skis by a horse. While skijoring spans back centuries in Europe, in our region it found its start in the 1940s when WWII vets in the Leadville, Colorado area tied ropes to horses to tow skiers in place of ski lifts. It wasn’t long before it turned into a competitive sport.

The competitive event often involves skiers being timed on a race course, which consists of navigating a number of jumps and obstacles. Many skijoring events include open class and sport class for both skiers and snowboarders. Each event venue has its own personality and flair that reflects the local culture, while still meeting strict safety guidelines. Courses can be straight, round, or u-shaped, and the course to navigate can vary. Some venues add a novice class, kid races, long jumps, shovel races, and other activities. The best and most popular skijoring events take place “in town” on a straight course.

The 2nd annual Red River Skijoring event happened on January 14th and 15th, 2017. Spectators packed in to get a glimpse of the skiers being towed by a horse running at a full gallop. The 2017 competition included four divisions: open (pro), sport (amateur), novice (beginner) and exhibition (“just for fun” for adults and kids).