welcome to the streamhorse world

Every year Skijor USA and various event organizers are approached by numerous individuals or towns seeking guidance on how to produce a skijoring event for the first time.  While many may get the impression that Skijor USA organizes, sponsors or produces events, this is not our role. 

By: Loren Zhimanskova

Every year Skijor USA and various event organizers are approached by numerous individuals or towns seeking guidance on how to produce a skijoring event for the first time.  While many may get the impression that Skijor USA organizes, sponsors or produces events, this is not our role.  However, Skijor USA does provide guidance, promotes events overall and connects people within the skijoring community to help those wishing to get involved in the sport.  

Skijor USA and members of our community are very supportive of new race venues or equine centers interested in expanding our sport.  In the past ten years, events have tripled in number, participants have more than doubled, vendors and sponsorships have grown substantially and spectator numbers have soared.  Each skijoring venue is managed independently, so the credit goes to all of the dedicated organizers, town councils, committee members, local sponsors, ground crew and volunteers who make each event happen.  Much progress has been made with innovative track designs, streamlined race preparations and safety, especially for horses.  

Putting on a skijoring event or deciding to offer skijoring as an activity at an equine center may at first appear to be a task behemoth in size, and the challenges it presents to anyone unfamiliar with the sport may seem daunting, but with a healthy head start, a strong team and a solid game plan, achieving a successful skijoring event can be TONS of fun and VERY satisfying.  For example, in an interview with a first-time organizer in Bondurant, Wyoming, ranch manager, Faith Hamlin, whose family owns The Little Jennie Ranch, confided she was worried about asking her crew whether they would be up for putting on another race in 2024.  

They had all worked countless hours over the weekend of the race and then gone right into calving season.  The word “exhausted” didn’t even begin to describe how these ranch hands felt at the time of the follow up meeting, yet their response was a resounding “Hell, yeah!”  Faith said she almost cried on the spot with gratitude.  While they hadn’t even competed in the race, the crew had such a strong feeling of accomplishment and had enjoyed the event so thoroughly that they were already looking forward to next year.  Welcome to the world of skijoring.  Once you get a taste of the action and the adrenalin rush, you only want more.  

A breakdown of what it takes to organize a skijoring event follows.  Some of the most common questions are:  How do I build a safe track and where?  How do I find participants and match teams?  How do I raise funds and sponsorship dollars?  What equipment is needed and where can I procure it?  How do I find insurance?  How do I promote my event and attract spectators?  Do I charge admission?  What staff or volunteers do I need?  How do I choose a date and should it be a one or two-day race?  What pitfalls can I avoid?  What does it cost?  

TRACK DESIGN

The key to a safe skijoring track is largely knowing what lies below it, achieving the correct quality, consistency and depth of snow and ensuring the track can be navigated safely by both horse/rider and skier.  Skijoring courses can be built in fields, on roads (either dirt or asphalt), on frozen lakes or on rodeo grounds or race tracks.  The most common tracks are built on stretches of land that are free of any fencing, ditches, rocks, holes or other obstacles.  A hay field can be perfect as long as it is inspected thoroughly during a season when the grass is low.  Rodeo grounds or race tracks are popular choices for a skijoring race since there is typically a solid footing for the horses, pre-constructed fencing and stadium seating for spectators.  Paved roads and airstrips or dirt roads are also a popular choice as long as there are no bumps, potholes, manhole covers or depressions.  The road should also be flat with very little grade and wide enough to allow for space to accommodate spectators as well as competitors.  Only the event in Saint Moritz, Switzerland, White Turf, builds their race track on top of a frozen lake, and we do not recommend this since it is a highly technical and specialized process. 

Tracks are generally 800 to 900 feet in length, but there must also be an ample run out, again free of obstacles and with good footing for the horses to slow down.  If one loses a rider, the run out should be safe enough for the horse to eventually stop on its own.  For recreational skijoring, training arenas can be used if they are large enough for an oval track.  As with competitive skijoring tracks, a turn should always be consistent with that of a race track, and no tighter since a tight turn can cause the horse to lose its footing on slick snow.  The g-force of having a skier pull the horse from one side on a “U” or “J” shaped track accentuates this.

SNOW FACTOR

Typically, skijoring races are held in places where snowfall is ample, yet this can never be predicted from season to season, so annual events always have a game plan in place to stockpile snow at a higher elevation, out of direct sun and where it will remain pristine.  If the snow that has fallen on a skijoring course site is enough, organizers still need to be sure that while moving it around it does not become contaminated with rocks or chunks of ice or other debris.  A snow cat with a tiller is HIGHLY recommended for anyone building a track because this machine compacts the snow, pushing the air out of it, which leads to consistency and a dry, hard surface on which the horses will eventually run.  A consistent depth is also EXTREMELY important and should not exceed 4” to 6” (some races go a little deeper) because the horse needs to punch through to solid ground and not EVER post hole.  For this reason, fencing is important when running in an open field because the depths to the side of the course are bound to be deeper.   Fencing also keeps skiers and spectators safe during the event.  

Moving the snow into place takes heavy equipment which is most often sourced through a local sponsor.  A snow cat with a tiller, a skid steer, dump trucks and ATVs on tracks or snowmobiles are commonly used at events.  Flatbed trailers are also handy to create makeshift announcer stands and move panels into place in the starting/staging area.  

EQUIPMENT

Once the course is built, other equipment needed includes generators, outdoor cords, tents, porta potties, trash receptacles, fencing, radios, shovels, rakes, drills, ropes, rings and gates.  Some race venues share this equipment with other events in their area, but most obtain their own over time.  Riders are responsible for their own tack and for attaching the rope to the back of the cantle.  Some dally the rope on the horn, but this is not recommended.  

Every rider shoes their horse differently according to the snow conditions and what they feel is best for their horse’s comfort and safety.  Some ride barefoot, others add bohrium to the shoe which keeps the snow and ice from accumulating.  Horses typically wear boots or have their legs taped to avoid injury while running.  Skiers use skis of all types and helmets are required.   

A timing system is one of the most important factors and can also be a challenge for a new race.  Some events have created panels over which the skier passes at the start and finish which “trip” the timing system.  Other events use electric eyes popular at rodeos.  Some use chips attached to the skier’s boot or bib.  At any rate, at least one back up timer is IMPERATIVE whether this is electric or human, meaning flaggers and stop watch holders working in tandem.  If your timing is not functioning or can’t be trusted, you don’t have a race. 

THE HUMAN FACTOR

Skijoring races require a lot of bodies to make for a successful event.  An organizing committee should be formed at least six months in advance of the chosen date and volunteers should be recruited at least a month beforehand.  The best way to attract competitors is to build a website with links to social media pages and begin advertising the event in the fall.  Skijor USA maintains a calendar of events that is constantly being updated to remain accurate.  Each race has its own direct link so that all information is through the races directly.  The skijoring season begins in January and extends through March.  There are usually multiple races each weekend.   Attracting spectators is usually achieved in conjunction with local tourism boards, businesses who act as sponsors and various media like newspapers, social media, TV and radio.  

Another important element of any competition is an announcer or announcers who can also act as auctioneers should the event choose to have a Calcutta (some states or venues require gambling licenses and others do not).  Organizers should provide the announcers with a list of competitors and a run order as soon as possible.  If an online registration is not used (we HIGHLY recommend this), a registration is held on the Friday night before the race at which event producers collect information about each competitor such as division, team mate and where they are from.  This information can be used by the announcers to keep the crowd informed.  Announcers should be in constant contact with race officials and able to announce times as teams finish and placements, even if they are unofficial, during the race.  They should also give sponsors recognition throughout and communicate any vital information such as delays for an injury or track repair.  They are an indispensable part of the team.     

INSURANCE

One of the most challenging aspects of putting on a skijoring event can be finding insurance.  Some race venues are fortunate to have insurance built into the venue if the race is held at a rodeo or fairgrounds or on a race track or polo field.  If not, shopping around can be exhausting, and because every state has different criteria and insurance carriers are not licensed nationally, insurance obtained for one race may not be able to cover another.  Organizers tend to network and a solution is usually found, but there is no simple method.

Insurance companies will insist on seeing a map of your venue, liquor licenses and sometimes designated areas for consumption along with volunteers carding customers, waivers which need to be signed by ALL competitors, volunteers and hired hands, as well as proof that an ambulance and veterinarian will be on site at all times.  Criteria can vary from race to race, but organizers should do their research thoroughly to avoid any lawsuits.  Signage prohibiting drones (other than professional used by credentialed media) and dogs is highly recommended.  

BUDGET

Events come in all shapes and sizes and thus, so do budgets.  There is no “set cost” of putting on an event, but they are generally not cheap, so fundraising as early as possible is key.  The best position is to partner with a town who earmarks money from their budget.  This may be connected to a winter carnival, for instance.  If a town is involved, this often helps with the insurance hurdle as well and with things like liquor licenses and heavy equipment.  If you are a private ranch or equine center, try to find several sponsors to help with expenses and ask for in kind donations in exchange for advertising at your event.  It is fine to charge admission at skijoring events, but this requires planning a venue where parking and/or admission can be controlled.  Often, this is not possible, so covering costs through sales of food and alcohol can be another way to go.  Most races offer a prize pot and award buckles, so money should be allocated for this, too.  Promoting and fund raising WELL in advance of the event is KEY. 

CHOOSING A DATE

The most important factors in choosing a date are weather (snowfall in your area) and potential conflicts with another event nearby.  Because a skijoring event takes so much effort to organize and plan and because competitors often travel long distances hauling trailers on snowy roads, two day races are more common. Some events have no choice but to schedule a race on a certain day or weekend because they are planned as part of a larger winter carnival.  Other events have been holding their race on the same weekend for many years and like the consistency so that competitors and local vendors can plan ahead every season.  That said, there are PLENTY of weekends to choose from if one simply does the research in advance.  Snowfall will always be unpredictable, but temperatures are a bit more consistent from year to year especially at high altitudes.  If is not uncommon for events to postpone, reschedule or even cancel, and no one will fault an organizer for this.  It is ALL ABOUT SAFETY in the end.  

PITFALLS

First of all, every event should be about having fun, so the better prepared you are, the smoother the event will go for everyone.  Being short on volunteers, having a track that is unsafe or cannot be properly maintained due to lack of equipment, encountering logistical problems like lack of parking or a timing or PA system that keeps breaking down, are some scenarios that can occur that will put a wrench in the works pretty darned quickly.  Skijor USA distributes a SKIJOR 101 Handbook that gets into more detail and is available upon request.  

Contact Loren Zhimanskova at (646) 209-0229 or email loren@skijorusa.com for information. 

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About the Author

Loren noted the potential to bring skijoring to the forefront of the  sporting community while volunteering and spectating at numerous  equine skijoring events in the winter of 2012. She established Skijor  International that year, building the first website with a comprehensive  and encyclopedic presentation of the sport. Loren organized Skijor  USA in 2018 with the goal of structuring and expanding the  competitive circuit. In 2023, she launched SKIJOR, which seeks to  expand skijoring as a recreational activity drawing upon the sport’s  100 year old roots focusing on the “driving” or “riderless” style.  

In a relatively short period of time, Loren has become well acquainted  with the sport’s past and present participants, both skiers and  equestrians alike, the organizers and dedicated operational staff.  The  relationships Loren has cultivated over the past decade are a key  component to the success of Skijor USA and SKIJOR. She aspires to  see skijoring recognized as an international sport which may  eventually play a role in the 2030 or 2034 Winter Olympic Games. She has established a Skijor Hall of Fame and is organizing an  exhibit on the history of the sport for European and US ski museums. 

Loren is a graduate of Yale University (B.A. ’86 History of Art) with a  background in building and managing businesses as well as  spearheading and executing sales and marketing plans for companies  such as Ralph Lauren and Tiffany & Company. Her professional  experience lies in the fields of fashion, photography and history of art  as well as in marketing resorts focused on skiing, horseback riding,  tennis and golf. For the past five years, she has worked for the USTA  (United States Tennis Association) during the US Open Tennis  Championships in Flushing Meadows, New York. Loren built and  owned her own publishing business, is an author and an experienced  photo editor. Loren divides her time between the Rocky Mountain  West and New York City. She is a skier, loves equestrian sport and  international travel and is conversant in French, German and Italian.