This world-famous dogsled race called Šediváček's Long is celebrating a quarter of a century's history. The stage race called the "sleddog trace" is held every year in Deštné in Orlické Mountains. Mushers from all over the world will be competing for the 25th time on an up to 300 km long track in just a few weeks' time, traditionally during the last January weekend. The organisers are hoping that the race will be able to take place after a one-year break.
The legendary Šediváček's Long dogsled race will be taking place in just a few weeks' time. What to look forward to?
Dogsled races not only beyond the Arctic Circle
There is perhaps no musher who has never heard of the Šediváček's Long. This musher event of the year, or at least in the Czech context, will celebrate a quarter of a century of existence. The jubilee race was supposed to take place this year, but due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the organisers have postponed it to 2022. It is not only because of such significant historical milestone in the organisation of the races but also thanks to the one-year break that all the fans of this dog sport are more than excited.
Šediváček's Long attracts also amateur mushers
The extreme race is classed as long trail and although its motto is "Towards the polar worlds", it is not intended only for professional mushers. According to the organisers, any dog lover or fan of dog sledding can attend. If you are considering taking part, it is high time to start preparing. You will have to conquer over two hundred kilometres along the Orlické Mountains mountain ridge and compete with 600 furry participants of all sorts or breeds.
More than a hundred competitors have already registered. You can choose from a 200 km four-stage category or a 300 km long trail with five stages. Whether a spectator or a participant, mark the 25 - 27 January 2022 in your diary and see you at the village of Jedlová u Orlického záhoří in Orlické Mountains. The full list of conditions for the participation in the race can be found at official race website www.czechlongrail.com.
Musher vocabulary
Do you know what go, gee or haw? Musher vocabulary is very rich and if you want to understand the race a little, it is good to know at least a few basic terms. The key commands for racing dogs are go - run, gee - turn to the right and haw - turn to the left. The dogsled rider and the dog handler in one is called the musher and the sled he is riding on is called toboggan. It is the most common sled model you can come across in this sport. Musher slang has dozens of terms and it is sort of a musher Esperanto, which you can use in dogsled communities all over the world.
Mush!
Every one of us has for sure encountered diarrhoea in our fuzzy friend. Usually, there’s nothing to fuss about, the body reacts to food that it isn’t capable to digest or that didn’t do it good. However, it is good to know, when we are capable of...
I have been sharing with you my experience with dogs and other animals for quite some time now and it occurred to me to wander a little bit into history as well, but into an interesting one! I’d like to introduce you to several well-known dog...
Allergy is a disproportionate reaction of the immunity system to common stimuli. It cannot be cured, but we can suppress its manifestations. In the last years, allergies in pets and dogs especially are on the rise. Currently, about 10% of house-dogs...
Today, we are going to take a look at the Feline Infectious Peritonitis - FIP, an utterly exceptional virus illness that always has a fatal end. Most of the cats get into contact with the viruses that cause FIP in their lifetime, even though the...
We can divide dog owners into two groups. The ones that allow the dog in bed and those that feel that this is no option. Let’s take a look at what such bed sharing with a dog actually entails.
If you like going on treks with your fuzzy friends, geocaching is something precisely for you. This way, you will liven up your trips and maybe you even discover places that you wouldn’t have found otherwise. I and my pack can’t get enough of it.
Contrary to dogs, cats have a strong bond with the place where they live. That’s why moving is very stressful for them and this stress may cause a number of diseases. It’s a good idea to plan everything well, so that you could make the situation of a...
Even though the dogs went through long years of domestication, they still retain fundamental instincts as we do. They might not be as strong as in wild dogs, but they still play a very significant role in the life of a dog and in their behaviour. So if...
Even though it’s been a long time since our four-legged furry friends lived a feral life, they still have the laws of the pack rooted deep down inside them. It is not acquired behaviour, the need to live in a pack is determined by genetics. And if...
It is no news that the dog isn’t only a pet and that it can also help saving human lives in various catastrophes. But have you ever thought about what it means for dogs to become rescuers? You haven’t? Well, then it’s the right time to set off together...
The usual pregnancy period in female dogs is indicated at about 58 – 65 days, the average is 63 days. In case of the nutrition of a pregnant female, possible changes in diet can be likened to the changes in diet of pregnant women. Pregnant female dogs...
The most frequent reason why your dog starts to gain weight is simple, as in most of people: they consume more energy than they spend. Some owners wave their arm at a well-intended warning that their pet has gained weight, stating that the dog is...
