Skijor Skowhegan Rules and Regs
Regulations
There will be a veterinarian on site with the authority to disqualify an animal for medical reasons. Any member of the organizing committee can require a horse to be examined by the veterinarian prior to racing.
Horses from out-of-state are required to provide a 1-year Coggins test and health certificate, per state regulations. Horses traveling in-state are required to provide a 3-year Coggins test.
Due to the nature of the event, Skijor Skowhegan’s insurance requires horse riders to be a minimum of 14 yo and skiers/snowboarders a minimum of 10 yo.
Sportsmanship is important to the success of the event and is a value of the Skijor Skowhegan community. Please use humane treatment of your horse and be respectful of other competitors, event officials, volunteers, and spectators.
Dogs MUST be leashed at all times while on the event premises. This is a fast-paced event and we expect dogs to be leashed for the safety of them, the horses, and competitors. If you have questions regarding how your dog will react, be a responsible owner and please leave them at home for the day.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and drones are prohibited from flying at this event.
Divisions
Pro—considered to be the highest skilled competitor with the fastest horses. A team consists of horse, rider and skier. The skier/snowboarder is expected to use the jumps included in the course.
Novice—considered to be beginner-level competitors riding horses that may not have speed enough to be competitive in the pro division. Novice skier/snowboarders are not expected to hit jumps.
*Snowboarder—a snowboarder division will be created in Pro when 5 or more snowboarding teams are registered in the division. If there are 4 or less snowboarding teams they will compete together with skiers.
Competitors will race in two age groups, junior (10-17 yo) and adult (18+ yo). Race officials will assign competitors to their age group based on the skier’s age. There need to be at least three teams in each age group to differentiate, otherwise, all competitors will race together.
Timing
Skijor Skowhegan will be using chip timing to ensure the greatest accuracy. Winning time is based on the best time of two runs. Age groups and division heats will be run consecutively.
Rules and Requirements
Rules and requirements are the same for Pro and Novice divisions.
- All skiers must wear approved snow sport helmets. Eye protection is recommended. If the skier is under 18, parent/ guardian must sign parental consent forms.
- Helmets are required for riders. If rider is under 18, parental consent form must be signed.
- Horses must have at least two front winter shoes with studs or borium for traction. Front hoof boots with studs are also acceptable as long as they provide adequate traction. Hind shoes with traction are recommended but not required.
- The rider must provide an approved saddle rigging consisting of a non-elastic rope loop extending no more than 6 inches from the saddle, as well as a weight-bearing carabiner. If there are any questions about what is approved, please email or ask questions at registration. Organizers may ask the rider to adjust the rigging to the approved dimensions.
- Tow ropes will be provided by the organizers and will consist of a rope, 30-33ft in length, a quick-release shackle** equipped with a quick-release string 3-4 feet in length that can be taped to the leg, held, or tucked into the waistband. The quick-release shackle is to be attached to the carabiner on the horse rigging. (Competitors are not allowed to use their own rope.)
- Protective leg boots are recommended for the horse to protect against injury from ski and snowboard edges, but are not required.
- The use of ski skates/ski blades is prohibited.
- A horse can not run on more than ONE team (a maximum of two runs).
- The same horse or skier may only compete in ONE division.
- Riders and skiers can compete on up to TWO teams.
- A rider can not use the same horse on both teams (see rule one).
- Skiers can not compete in more than one division.
- It is permissible on the 2nd run of any horse in any division, for the rider to become the skier and the skier to become the rider (a switch does not create a new team).
- Finishing the race: the skier must finish in an upright position and on at least one ski, with rope and collected rings in hand when crossing the finish line. Both skier boots must cross the finish line.
- Gates: both ski tips and both boots must go around a gate, or the gate is considered missed. Ski tips and ski boots must cross the horizontal plane of the gate also the vertical plane. Both skis do not need to be on the surface when passing the gate but must not cross the vertical plane, i.e. consider the gate is extended straight up to the sky; both skis must go around the imaginary gate extended to the sky.
- If the skier drops the rope before crossing the start line, he/she will be allowed a restart, immediately.
- The event official is authorized to pull competitors from a race if they deem the team is not fit to compete. Event official has the final decision.
- Event organizers have the right to put age limits on divisions.
- Competing under the influence of drugs or alcohol is strictly prohibited. Skijor Skowhegan and event organizers have the final say in related matters.
Penalties
A five (5) second penalty is assessed for each missed jump or gate if registered for the Pro division.
A five (5) second penalty is assessed for each missed gate if registered for the Novice division.
A one (1) second penalty is assessed for each missed or dropped ring