Sepia Saturday #212: 'Skis + Horses = Skijoring'

Although we have ancestors and relatives who travelled to northern Europe on holiday, and one who worked in Switzerland, I do not know if they ever spent time on skis. Also, despite the fact that both my brother and I have skied from the time we were teenagers, when I searched through my collection of photographs, I was able to find only one photo relevant to the theme; it features my brother on skis. My collection does include a number of photos of people on horses, of both the real and the hobby variety, and as I was ruminating over the images, I began to think about that sport in which we see horses and skiers together, namely Skijoring.

Skijoring originated in northern Europe in the late 19th century and involves skiers — either on a course or cross country — being towed by horses or dogs. Later on, in some places, motorized vehicles were used. In the 1928 Winter Olympics in St. Moritz, Switzerland, skijoring with horses was even a demonstration sport. 

So...for my contribution to today's Sepia Saturday, here is a mix of images, including people on horses, a skier, and horses and skiers together skijoring. I hope they bring a smile to your face.

Horseback riding through The Gap of Dunloe, County Kerry, Ireland:
left to right: my brother Michael and our mom Mary in the pony-drawn 'trap',
me on 'Tom', our dad Michael on 'Maudie'.

Now, if I could somehow animate the hobby horse on which my paternal grandaunt Mollie is seated,
and have her dismount of course,
then create tow lines from the horse to my brother Michael, and connect the images through time,
then we might have a family photo of skijoring.

On the Flickr page of Nationaal Archief — The National Archives of the Netherlands — is this wonderful photo, taken in 1930, of a skijoring race. (If you click on it, you can view the other photos in their collection.) Skijoring looks like great fun, although probably somewhat dangerous.

Are there any skijoring types on your family tree?

Click on photos to view larger versions.
©irisheyesjg2014.