Visiting our events? Spectators are welcome at all MUSH events. To help ensure you have a positive experience we M.U.S.H. suggest the following guidelines: MID-UNION SLED HAULERS It’s a bond between history and survival • do not bring your pets to the race Mushers dedicated to dog sledding on an • dress warm amateur basis and for the love of their dogs. Sled dog racing is one of North America’s oldest • ask questions and take pictures winter sports originating out of necessity from • keep small children in hand to avoid any native cultures, such as the Inuit. People depended accident that is neither the fault of the dog on teams of sled dogs for faithful companionship, nor the child assistance in hunting and as a sole means of • ALWAYS get permission before approaching transportation during the long winter months. or petting the dogs. (These dogs can get In 1908, the first formal racing event, the “All really excited at these events because they Alaskan Sweepstakes”, was run from Nome, Alaska LOVE to run and may not be thinking about to Candle, Alaska and back. In January 1925, Nome you) again became the site of another historic race due • ask a driver for instructions first before trying to a Diphtheria outbreak. In efforts to avoid an to help epidemic due to an inadequate supply of antitoxin • remain in the designated spectator areas 22 native Alaskans and mail teams forged through during the start and finish of the race for the the rough interior of Alaska across the frozen Bering safety of you and the dog teams Sea to deliver the serum. • do not stand or block the trail when a team is approaching Sled dogs are athletes • do not ask a driver questions while they are Arctic breeds such as Alaskan Malamutes, busy preparing for a race. They will be more Samoyeds and Siberian Huskies are frequently used than happy to answer your questions when in sled dog racing. Other breeds and crossbreeds they are done are common, such as the Alaskan Husky, a type • please don’t feed the dogs – they are on of dog developed based on athletic ability, and the special diets Eurohound, which is a mix of German Shorthaired Interested in joining M.U.S.H.? Pointer, English Pointer and even Greyhound. Attend an event near you! Find our current The dogs of today’s racing teams are true athletes membership chairperson, and schedule of events, and share an incredible bond with their driver. at midunionsledhaulers.com. See you on the trail! Most dogs range in size from 40 to 60 pounds and are kept at an optimal, healthy weight. Drivers favor dogs that are even-tempered, gentle and able to stand the pressures of a rigorous training For current race information, visit us at and schedule. A sled dog may put in hundreds of midunionsledhaulers.com or call miles in a training season and will be transported in our “cold” line at (517) 554-8465. vehicles to races for many thousands of miles over the course of a three-month period. The dogs, and mushers, relish their active lifestyle! www.facebook.com/MidUnionSledHaulers – ESTABLISHED 1980 – Rev 10.13 ESTABLISHED 1980 Rev 4.12 Sled dogs are among the best cared for animals in the world. Because the sport is based on athletic performance, the Musher must be constantly alert to anything that might endanger the health of his or her dog team members. Many mushers use a balanced and fortified meat-based diet to provide the compact, highly digestible high quality protein and energy that the dogs need. Junior teams race toward the finish-line while spectators watch the race from the sidelines. Wondering who we are? Dog Sledding The most easily-identifiable form of the sport Mid Union Sled Haulers, Inc. (MUSH) is a have been held throughout Michigan. is regular dog sledding. “Mushing”, as it’s non-profit organization located in the Mid- Sponsors include pet food companies, local termed, requires a team of well-behaved, social athletes who relish performing with Western U.S.A. dedicated to dog sledding and state parks and civic organizations. like-minded canines. Anywhere from two- on an amateur basis, for the love of their to-16 dogs, or more, generally comprise dogs and the promotion of sled dog racing Growing together most teams. Why do the dogs run and pull? Because they love it! as a fun, family activity. Membership has grown to nearly 200 with the majority of that number representing Weight Pull How we got our start family memberships. Most MUSH members This sport can also be traced back to early Alaskan history, when dogs were used to haul Bill Raabe, of Battle Creek, Michigan, along are located in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and freight, mail and other heavy loads in the with a handful of fellow drivers, scheduled a Minnesota. All races and training sessions Last Frontier. Similar to the team racing, as meeting at Bill’s house for interested drivers are held in various locations throughout the teams met in local villages friendly rivalries to discuss an amateur club of mushers. State of Michigan. developed into challenges to determine the best pulling dog. Notices of the meeting were distributed, and over 30 people from Michigan, Ohio Several of the club’s members participate Skijoring and Indiana attended the first meeting. in local parades, sled dog exhibitions and demonstrations throughout Michigan, Originating on the other side of the world, The group decided to form an amateur sled where skis and pulks had developed as a dog club, which has come to be known as helping to educate the community about common method of travel across the frozen Mid-Union Sled Haulers. The club’s first this exciting sport and the canine athletes landscapes of Scandinavia, skijoring is who make it happen. another popular dog-powered sport available President and chief organizer Vic Rowell, at M.U.S.H. events. The desire to test dogs’ Vice President Bill Raabe, Treasure Lillian abilities against others led to impromptu Bowan and Secretary Matt Woudenberg A glimpse at our year (weather permitting) competitions. were elected in August 1980. As an organization, we start training in Kiddie Race, the 100-Yard Dash September. Cooler temperatures in fall are Interest in long distance racing had declined The 100-yard dash is a race specifically for an ideal time to optimize the dogs’ physical our up-and-coming generation of mushers. as focus on sprint racing emerged. During condition and build on team commands This is a supervised race, with a length of the winter of 1980, M.U.S.H. plunged into before race season. Race season usually 100-yards, designed to bolster the confidence its first race season with the first race starts in January, ending in March. of our young members and provide them with hosted at Johnson Park in Grand Rapids, real-life experience on a race trail. These kids are the future of our sport! Michigan. In the years that followed, races .