The activity

In ski-joëring a horse or a pony fitted with a rigid frame pulls the skier along a groomed trail. Ski-joering is only permitted in specific areas, such as certain ski trails or, more rarely, some forest tracks.

Equipment and horses

Ski-joëring does not require a specific breed of horse; any type of horse can be used, whether a thoroughbred, a draught horse or a pony. However, the horse must be well trained so it obeys spoken commands.

The skier is connected to the horse via a harness. Skis must be no more than 1.5-metres long, so as not to get in the way of the horse. The skier must stay behind the horse at all times.

A bit of history

Ski-joëring is a Scandinavian word meaning "pulled along on skis". Before becoming a leisure activity, it was a means of winter transport used by farmers, who wore skates so they could be pulled along by reindeer, and later by horses. Ski-joëring arrived in France at the beginning of the 20th century, at almost the same time as skiing. It first came to Savoie Mont Blanc around 1925.

At that time, in winter, local people used horses or mules to drag large transport sledges - a technique that was later adapted to drag skiers up slopes. In Savoie and Haute-Savoie this way of using horses gradually disappeared as the economy grew after the war.

Resorts in Savoie Mont Blanc offering this activity include:

Ski-joëring competitions

Ski-joëring competitions are held over compact courses so spectators can see the entire event.

Each competition consists of three events:

• Giant slalom: covering a distance of between 90 and 200 metres, a giant slalom has between 8 and 12 gates, which are set 8 to 10 metres apart for ponies and 10 to 12 metres apart for horses. Both the horse and the skier must go through the gates.
• Special slalom: 10 to 12 slalom poles, approximately 4 metres apart and arranged in a straight line over a course that is between 45 and 100 metres long. The horse must go straight, whereas the skier must slalom through all the poles, without touching them.
• Speed event: This, the most spectacular event, is run on a 300 to 1500-metre circuit. Two to four skiers compete at the same time, with the aim of doing two laps as quickly as possible. Some horses can reach speeds of up to 45km/hr.
  An example of a competition:

French Ski-Joëring Championships at Les Arcs

30th January and 31st February 2010

40 teams will take part in the slalom and speed events, to be held on a specially designed course.

[+] more info