Husky racing, a new winter activity at Winton.

We are delighted to be able to offer Siberian Husky racing as a new group activity at Winton House. A team of Siberian Huskies pulls a three-wheeled rig or sled at speed with the 'musher' (the driver) standing on the footplates.

We liked the idea so much we thought we'd try it out for our own Christmas party! Now we know some Husky commands and can tell our 'gee' from our 'haw'.

Alert, intelligent and mischievous, most Siberian Huskies love to pull the rig or sled. It's in their blood and they get really excited and howl when they are hooked up. You only have to see them working to realise how much they enjoy it! However, they’re generally very quiet.

Husky racing includes:

• An introduction to husky racing and meeting the dogs;
• Learning how to handle the dogs, harness them up and prepare them for the race;
• Setting up the rigs and team lines;
• Racing a two-dog team around the paddock on a three wheeled rig (unless there is sufficient snow for a sled).

Alternative Husky racing options are:

• 'Bikejoring': a driver pedalling a bicycle with a husky in harness pulling it.
• 'Canicross': running with a husky pulling on a bungee lead attached to the runner’s mushing belt.

We've tried these too, and in time trials, canicross can be faster than bikejoring! It depends how good you are at cornering.

Winton will make a donation of £50 to the Scottish Siberian Husky Club for each booking made.

The Chukchi people, from Siberia, developed the Siberian Husky breed. They were originally bred to transport the Chukchi to and from villages for trading and going hunting, often up to 100 miles away. When hunting, they would catch as many seal as they could put on their sled then the dogs would pull the heavy load back to the village.

The huskies were sometimes brought into the igloo at night to sleep with the children to keep them warm, which helps explain their loving temperament.

They were introduced into Britain in 1971, at first for pets, showing and obedience, then used for short sprint races of between two to five miles. Please be aware that dogs cannot race above 12 degrees centigrade so this activity is only suitable between November and March, except for unusually cold weather in the spring and autumn.

Email us or call us on 01875 340 222 for more information.