The word itself comes from the Norwegian skikjøring, meaning “ski driving.” In its earliest form, it was practical. In snowy Scandinavian countries, skiers were pulled across frozen terrain by reindeer, dogs, and eventually horses. It was transportation before it was competition.

By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, skiijoring had evolved into competition and even appeared as a demonstration event at the 1928 Winter Olympics in St. Moritz. Horses pulling skiers across a frozen lake were no longer just practical…they were thrilling!

When skiijoring made its way to North America, it changed.

The American West reshaped it. Ranch horses replaced carriage horses. Main streets and snow-packed tracks replaced frozen fjords. Western tack, cowboy hats, and speed became defining features. What emerged was something uniquely American: part rodeo, part ski race, entirely winter.

Today’s skiijoring reflects both histories. It carries echoes of its Nordic beginnings while operating as a distinctly American equestrian sport. It rests on the same foundations that built it over a century ago: horsepower, balance, winter, and nerve.

And while Montana and Colorado may have helped popularize modern American skiijoring, they are far from the whole story. The modern landscape of skiijoring stretches much farther than its best-known towns.

A National Circuit Built on Local Traditions

Today, skiijoring events span the country, loosely connected through organizations like Skijor USA, which serves as a central hub for races throughout the winter season.

Rather than a single formal league, skiijoring in the U.S. operates as a constellation of independently run events. Each reflects its own landscape, horse culture, and community.

In the Mountain West, skiijoring feels raw and fast. In the Midwest and New England, events lean into festival energy. In the Pacific Northwest, the sport continues to expand.

Skiijoring Events Across the United States

Each winter, dozens of events appear on the calendar. A few notable stops across different regions include:

Pacific Northwest

• Chewelah, WA, Feb. 28 & Mar. 1 - One of Washington’s growing skiijoring events, drawing riders, skiers, and spectators from across the region.
  

Mountain West

• Leadville, CO, Mar. 7 & 8 - One of the oldest skiijoring events in the country, held at elevation with a long-standing local following.

• Grand Lake, CO, Feb 28 & Mar. 1 - A classic Colorado stop that blends small-town winter culture with serious competition.

• Salt Lake City, UT Feb. 27 & 28 - An urban-adjacent event that brings skiijoring into a broader spotlight.
  

Upper Midwest

• Canterbury Park, MT, Feb. 21 & 22 - A festival-style event that introduces skiijoring to new audiences while maintaining strong horsemanship at its core.
  

New England

• Waterville Valley, NH, Feb. 15 - A reminder that skiijoring is not just a Western sport, but one that adapts well to New England winter traditions.

• Skowhegan, ME, Feb. 21 - An East Coast expression of the sport rooted in community and winter resilience.
  

Taken together, these events show a discipline that is quietly nationwide. Different accents, different horses, different snow, but the same core requirements: bravery, partnership, and speed.

Skiijor Chic: When Winter Horse Sport Meets the Red Carpet

Spend time along a skiijoring rail, and you will notice something else happening between heats. Layers of shearling and flannel. Felt cowboy hats beside knit beanies. Denim dusted with snow. Belt buckles worn over insulated bibs. Mirrored ski goggles resting on Western collars.

What started as pure practicality has evolved into something recognizable enough to earn its own name: skiijor chic.

And in some places, it has gone a step further.

Certain events on the national calendar, including stops affiliated with Skijor USA, have embraced the cultural crossover through runway-style showcases and red-carpet moments. Spectators and competitors alike step forward to display their winter-meets-Western style, sometimes even judged in friendly competition for best-dressed honors.

Skiijor chic is not costume. It is what happens when working horse culture collides with mountain winter gear, and neither side feels the need to change. Waxed canvas next to down insulation. Cowboy boots planted in snowbanks beside insulated muck boots.

The aesthetic works because it is rooted in function. People dress for wind, snow, and long hours outdoors. The fact that it photographs beautifully is almost accidental.

In a sport built on partnership and nerve, the style that surrounds it carries the same confidence. It says you belong here. Whether you are holding a tow rope, sitting in the saddle, or standing along the rail with a thermos in hand.

A Winter Sport With Staying Power

What makes skiijoring compelling is its honesty. It exists where winter is real, and horses are part of daily life. It asks participants to meet the season on its own terms.

As more communities embrace winter events that celebrate place, partnership, and grit, skiijoring continues to find new ground. Not as a trend, but as a living, working horse sport.

For those willing to stand in the cold and watch closely, skiijoring offers something rare: a winter equestrian sport that feels immediate, physical, and real. It is fast, demanding, and built on partnership, not pageantry. In a season when many horse disciplines slow down, skiijoring reminds us that horsemanship does not hibernate.

Pretty Fabulous!

For the thirteenth year in a row, the Aspen Valley Polo Club will transform the frozen field into one of the most sought-after events of the season, where elite athletes, high-glamour guests, and a touch of celebrity swagger meet on the snow.

Expect high energy, dramatic plays, and peak winter luxury as North America’s only snow polo tournament brings its signature sparkle back to the Rockies. This is the kind of weekend where the champagne flows, the horses lift off the ground, and Aspen feels absolutely electric.

Tentative Schedule:
✨ December 17 — Semifinals & Celebrity Matches
✨ December 18 — Finals & Trophy Ceremony

Buy your tickets here!

If Aspen isn’t fitting in the schedule, you can host your own Snow Polo Party with Epicurean guidance… and there’s always St. Moritz!

41ST SNOW POLO WORLD CUP ST. MORITZ 2026

28.01.2023 Polo Game 1 The Kusnacht Practice (5th) vs. Flexjet (6th)

copyright: fotoswiss.com/giancarlo cattaneo

Join the fun and excitement January 23-25 in beautiful St. Moritz, Switzerland!
Get your VIP tickets here.

What Is Snow Polo?

It is essentially playing polo on a frozen lake rather than on grass. There are four players on each team. The captain leads the team’s tactics and usually wears number 3. Number 4, also known as back, controls the defense. The other two players are attackers.

In high-goal snow polo, a match will typically consist of four chukkas lasting 7½ minutes each, except for the last one, which is 7 minutes. In any one match, a pony may only be played in a maximum of two, non-consecutive chukkas.

“I’m Ready!”

120 Polo Ponies are brought in from Spain, France, Germany, and England a few days before the tournament to acclimate to the cold. It appears even the stalls are heated.

Courtesy Hoof Blog.com

Snow polo horseshoes are designed to prevent snow from clogging the shoes and to provide traction on slippery surfaces. Rubber pads, cleats, and cogs help the horse move safely. Like snow tires for horses!

This makes sense. It’s a ball you can see in the snow!

A great way to spend a weekend!

What To Wear To Snow Polo

LILIBETH Mixed-media shearling down parka by Mackage

I see Rebecca in this!

ETIENNE Shearling coat with belt by Mackage

This should keep me warm!

Where to stay…

If you’re heading to Aspen for Snow Polo, consider staying at the St. Regis for the whole luxury polo experience…

…The Little Nell or Hotel Jerome for peak elegance…

…or the Limelight/W Aspen for modern, energetic winter vibes.

If you’re considering St. Moritz, there’s really only one choice:

Badrutt’s Palace Hotel

Awarded 3 Keys In The Michelin Guide 2024

Can’t make it to either?
Host your own Snow Polo Party — we’ve got you covered!