We have run 23 times so far this year and only twice have we averaged over 5-6 miles per hour on our runs with the ATV. There are about a dozen dogs that we are training that are over 12 years old! The long, slow runs develop muscle and protect the dogs when we go faster on sleds. The old ones get in shape slower than young dogs and this gives them time to get caught up with the younger dogs.
The slow speed also keeps the dogs from getting to warm when the temp is over 40, which it often is early on. The last couple runs were a bit faster, with short sections where we let off the brakes for short sections to let the 18 dogs get the ATV up to about 12 mph. That gets fast over the bumps and curves on the woods trails. We have to hang on tight!
The old dogs look great, as does everyone else.
Snow is in the forecast, so we are hoping to put the ATVs away soon and switch to sleds. After dragging an ATV with both brakes on almost constantly all fall, they have learned to pull very hard, so the sledding will be a little hard to control at first. Next entry will be full of snow!
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