WORKING WITH YOUR ALASKAN MALAMUTES - CART TEAMS

[Johan Mostert]

Mushers train their dogs to run with 3 or 4-wheeled carts. Initially
it was a means of conditioning and training without snow. Cart events
have come into its own in recent years and are specially used in
countries without snow conditions.

For 3-wheel carts, team sizes may range from 3 to a maximum of 4 dogs.
For 4-wheel carts, team sizes may range from 5 to 8 dogs and for the
well experienced musher almost unlimited.

What is required?

A 3- or 4-wheeled cart, a gangline, a bungee (1 cord for each dog on
the team e.g 4-dog team = minimum 4 cords in bungee; 8-dog team =
minimum 8 cords in bungee etc. the same applies for any other mushing
activity when using a bungee on a gangline), tuglines and necklines
and snubline with quick-release. The dogs to be in a x-back harness.

As a start why not just join a musher’s team with all the equipment
and all you have to provide to the team is additional dogs fitted with
your own x-back harnesses. When you have gained the experience and
knowledge and have purchased all the additional equipment required for
cart mushing, then you can start to run your own team in time to come.

Competition:

Cart events may be divided into various classes and are held in
combination with other mushing activities on event day. Competitors
are started individually and the distances raced range from 3 to 16
kilometres depending on the layout of the track or the size of the
grounds where the event is held. These events are ran over fairly
level terrain on grass, dirt, gravel, sand or similar surfaces and can
include uphills and/or down hills which lots of support from the
musher in supporting his team of dogs. Asphalt and concrete are
avoided.

Events are usually held early mornings over weekends. Competitors must
use the same dog(s) in all heats of the event if held over more than
one single day and the length of the line between the competitor and
the dog is regulated, can vary in length depending on the size of the
team.

Safety:

Ambient temperatures exceeding certain limits may be cause for
cancellation of events as the safety of dogs and humans is of
paramount concern.

Social Activity:

Join a team, as a support or your breeder, should he be a musher on
weekend late afternoons when weather permitting (always remember the
colder the better as overheating of the dogs is not permitted) in fun
runs.

You too will feel the free spirit of mushing.