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| Viewing Page 1 of 1 (Total Posts: 5) |
| Author | Comment |
Bryan
Oct 6, 05 - 8:10 PM |
neck line race rule
I have spent the past 3 years training dogs for the Iditarod using the "short" harness and no neck lines. Our club rules currently prohibit running a team this way in a race. I'd like to propsed a change to the rules allowing for this. I know the main argument mushers have against this system is the fear of their team getting tangled in a pass. In the 3 years I have experienced very few tangles, and those that I have had were by far less complicated and easier to untangle than those I've had using neck line (I believe because now there is one less line per dog to untangle) which in my opinion can be much safeer for the dogs. Plus neck line or no neck line if a dog wants to more over to the other side of the trail they can pull the gangline section over. Ultimately what helps prevent tangels is good, consistent training, and sometimes that may include the assistance of fellow mushers reaching out and swatting offending dogs as you do pass (with other mushers consent of course!!) Below are two options for the rule change followed by the rule as currently written. I'd love to hear feedback! Proposed Change: II. Pre-Race Procedure B. Eligibility of Dogs, Teams, Drivers 10. All dogs must be properly harnessed in the team. Equipment and team configurations deemed unsafe by race officials is prohibited. -or- 10. All dogs must be properly harnessed in the team. Musher must be able to demonstrate reasonable control over the safety of team. Former rule: 10. All dogs must be properly harnessed in the team. a. All dogs except the lead dog(s) must be fastened with necklines. b. The lead dog(s) may run with or without a neckline. |
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Colton
Oct 11th, 2005 - 8:24 PM |
Re: neck line race rule
I agree with Brian that it makes sense to change this rule in that many in the sport are moving away from necklines and it does seem safer for the dogs in many ways. Also, I've not seen any significant problems with older dogs, i.e., not puppies, running without necklines who have been trained to do so. I would suggest that the musher has to have approval of the race marshal and must demonstrate to the race marshal that the team is properly trained to run without neck lines. I would suggest sort of a combination of Brian's suggested revisions: 10. All dogs must be properly harnessed in the team. Equipment and team configurations deemed unsafe by race officials is prohibited. a. If a driver elects to run a team without the use of necklines, the driver must first have the approval of the race marshal and must demonstrate control over the team to the satisfaction of the race marshal. Colton |
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Dori
Oct 21st, 2005 - 8:11 PM |
Re: neck line race rule
I wonder what is considered properly harnessed. While it might be acceptable for someone with a short harness & short tugline to not use a neckline, what happens when someone with a standard set up and a 4 foot tug decides they don't want necklines? That is where I can see real troubles. That dog could move 6 - 8 feet away from the center line and turn around if it wanted. Ultimately teams should be well enough trained that it isn't a problem, but this isn't a perfect world and there are a lot of novices that show up at races that don't necessarily have well trained teams. How are you going to demonstrate that you can control the team? Since most of the folks using the short harnesses are distance folks, I wonder if we could have a sprint clause and a distance clause. That might placate everyone. |
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Bryan
Oct 22nd, 2005 - 7:55 AM |
Re: neck line race rule
I believe by leaving it as properly harnessed that gives a little latitude to the race officials to judge. Dori mentions regular harnes and 4ft. tugs and giving the dogs 6-8ft of free movement... theres nothing to say that a necklined dog in a traditional setup wouldn't have that same movement too since the gang line isn't strung out taught between to "rigid" objects. The point is is a necklined dog wants to move into another team they can do it neck line or no neck line. Again, I have run dogs in team with the standard harness without a neck line and still had no trouble (as I'm sure many others have when a neck line breaks and you don't want to stop and fix it right away) I don't like the idea of adding a sprint vs. distance clause, because that assumes that all sprinters stay with sprint and all distance stay with distance. I'm running the Iditarod this year, which I guess classifies me distance, but I'd like to run a few of our races, which ultimately many would be classified sprint... I also believe by adding that clause you exclude any sprint musher that may use the "short harness" setup, or may choose to start using it. |
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Kim
Sep 18th, 2007 - 6:35 PM |
Re: neck line race rule
I agree that mushers should be able to run with whatever way works for them as long as it is safe and comfertable for the dogs. I run with necklines mainly because it keeps the dogs facing forwards and pulling but I see no problem without using neaklines. I think the rule should be changes but it should give officials the right to deny entrance with equiptment deemed unsafe. 
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