Red Shed Racing

The last few months have been tough for us and for many others.  I am however able to start by saying thankfully ALL of us here at Red Shed Racing are healthy and well...

It is Jaunary and as I look out the window snow flakes are falling.  I am hopeful that finally we will get enough snow to run with a sled.  Fall training "so to speak" never really ended here in my neck of the woods.  We had a tease of snow that was followed by rain and warm temps.  That left us training with our ATV as our only option.  On most of our runs the ATV would quit runnning and these wonderful dogs had to pull the dead machine with me runnning alongside as much as I could.  Their hearts are SO BIG they never quit they just went with it and pulled their little hearts out!  I am so proud of them.  So even though the training has been tough I was blessed with seeing just how great these animals have become! 

I did manage to get out on the lake when there was a bit of snow with them though and that was really FUN!

I had to make a REALLY TOUGH choice for us here this season.  And I hope our fans will understand why.  We will not be racing this year - we will focus on training.  There are many reasons for this but I will explain the two main ones:

Firstly, I had advertsied to get a handler for the season to help me at the races.  I felt stongly that I needed a person who could devote the time to getting to know the dogs and all their quirks.  Lets face it they are a wild bunch - that's why they ended up here!  Last year I had a helper that could only come to the races and didn't know the dogs or their needs or even a good routine for the equipment.  It worked but not very well.  I had to explain each and every thing as we  were in the middle of each task and that was very stressful.  Racing is challenging enough and I don't believe it is enjoyable for me or the dogs if it is that stressful.  I did not find the right person for this task this season and had to make a choice.  I decided that the dogs and I would be better off sticking to training and enjoying what it is we love to do together.  I am disapointed that we will not be able to show the dogs talents off this year and this decision did not come easily. 

Secondly, times are tough financially all over this country.  This last month I personally was aware of 160 sled dogs that needed homes.  Forty of those dogs were in a "rescue" that was closing down.  I have to be very deligent with our budget when it comes to the dogs here at Red Shed Racing.  I need to make certain their level of care remains the BEST!  I have had to tighten up my finances just like so many people have had too but I will not compromise the dogs or their nutrition or vet care etc..  The money that it would take to travel to races seemed out of reach this year.  I feel the need to be ultra cautious with our funds in these times.  I hear so many mushers say they have changed their feeding habits due to costs.  Or don't have money to keep decent shelter for their dogs yet they continue to pursue racing.  That is irresponsible in my opinion.  

We are grateful for our sponsors in 2010 especially in these times!  I know the folks who sponsor us want what is best for the dogs too!  So we will continue to train (conditions permitting) and feed EVO and take care of health issues as our priority this year.  I will work harder to get a handler next year and raise money specifically for racing!!