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My interest in sled dog racing began about three to four years ago when an old high school chemistry teacher introduced me to the sport. My old teacher was unable to run his dogs secondary to a back injury. So he told me to jump on the sled and tell them "Hike" and they would take me through the field. It was then that I fell in love with the sport of dog sled racing.
The next summer, I took care of my friends kennel while he was gone in Montana. I really enjoyed all aspects of the dogs' care and I told my husband that I wanted to get my own team. Later that summer, my husband bought my first two Siberian Huskies as a wedding gift. I named them Silver Cross and Aurora Borealis.
Then I was mentored by my friend in the basics of dog sled racing. When my dogs turned a year old, I ran them recreationally in the winter with a used sled purchased from Hall's sleds. I also acquired all the harness and ganglines that I would need from them as well. I joined a sprint race group called MUSH (Mid-Union Sled Haulers). I attended training sessions and events that they held to learn as much as I could. However, I didn't race that year because I didn't have enough dogs.
Later that year I got my third dog, Nikita, as a four month old puppy. A woman in Jackson, Michigan, had bought her at eight weeks old and didn't want her anymore. Then I got my fourth dog later that year from Snow Print Kennel in Estey, Michigan. I named this dog Bandit. Now I had four dogs that could run!!! I ran again recreationally that winter to gain more experience and confidence in my abilities. This year (2003-2004) will be my rookie season to race in the 3 dog class with the MUSH group.
Finally, this summer, I acquired Hero from Starfire Siberians. He is too young to race this season but I look forward to racing him next year. He has a lot of great personality traits and is even potty trained to hang out in the house once in a while. He really likes to come into the house and play with my husband's bird hunting dog, a black Labrador Retriever named Orion.
I am looking forward to my rookie racing season this year!!!
And that's the Story from Coldfeet Racing :O)