Libby Here!
How many dogs are allowed for each sled and musher?
Each musher can start the race with 16 dogs. When arriving in Nome, each musher must have at least 6 dogs pulling the sled.
Not every dog that starts the race gets to finish the race. Most of the time, there are little details that help the musher and the vets make these decisions about which dogs race on and which dogs stay behind in checkpoints. Dogs that are left behind at checkpoints, (this is called ‘dropped’ dogs) get the best vet care while waiting to ride in the bush plane with their own personal pilot, a member of the Iditarod Air Force. They take their plane ride to Nome or to Anchorage, depending on where they were ‘dropped’. The musher has made arrangements a head of time for the dogs to be picked up and cared for during this time.
When you see on the Internet that mushers have dropped dogs, don’t worry about the dogs. Most of them are very healthy. As I said, tiny details like a slight muscle sprain, a cough, or the fact that they just didn’t seem to be working as team member, are reasons some dogs are ‘dropped’. All of the dropped dogs get excellent care and soon forget how sad they are that they don’t get to finish the race.
I know I’d be sad if I trained for something and then didn’t get to do what I trained to do. But the decision to leave a dog in the checkpoint is made because mushers and vets want to make sure the dogs stay healthy.
Can you think of something in your own life that you might train for and how you’d feel if after training you didn’t get to do what you trained to do? That sounds like a great topic to write about in your journal!
Just spinning some ‘de-tails’!
Libby
20 Comments
What is the white anorak type of clothing called that the mushers wear sometimes? I’ve seen it on the Insider videos. It looks like it’s made of a thin material. What is its purpose?
Martha
I think it would be cool to do the idtarod.Good thing you guys stop.bye,
Brianna
I love the Iditarod! Go Martin and Rohn Buser! Kaelyn
My fourth grade class in Virginia Beach, VA is having a great time following the Iditarod race and learning all about your beautiful state. We are following 9 mushers with most of them in contention to win! We watched the DVD of last year’s race and sort of became attached to Lance Mackey. However, we are just anxious to see who actually wins and when! We love the K9 reporters and look forward to all of your postings. Ms. Hayden
Hello All,
I am Jeff King’s first cousin. I can’t wait for him to go home with #5
Pam
Dear Libby,
There is this place and it is called Libby Lu. Your birthday could be celebrated there, except it’s only for humans….sorry! I saw your picture and you’re reallly, really cute. Hope you are enj;oying the race, we sure are!
GO ROHN!!
Sincerely,
Bella
Hi zuma!!! Tell Slivia I’m cheering for her.
It’s so cool to hear about the Idiarod. My teacher loves it, and were doing a reading race called idiaread. Nia
Hi I’m in Ms. Hayden’s class. It is very fun following the racers. Ms.Hayden has read all of the reports from Zuma, it is very interesting listening to what was posted. I can’t wait to see who wins the Iditarod. Will it be Lance Mackey or Jeff King or any other musher like i said i can’t wait to see. It would be so cool to be a musher in the Iditarod.I personaly hope Lance Mackey he seems like he is a very cool guy. It is hard to wait until you put up your new postings so i can read them.=)
Go Lance Mackey! You have a chance!
My first graders are following Rohn Buser and have noticed that he is down to 8 dogs. They are worried and want to know if his team is sick? Zuma do you know what is going on with Rohn’s team? If you see Rohn and his team tell them Pollard’s Puppies in Hoover, Alabama are rooting for him. You can tell him that Mrs. Pollard (formerly Lori Webster) went to A.P.U. with his mom. We follow the Buser family in every race. Big hugs and howls to you.
Thanks for your comments. Rohn is a very good musher. I am certain he is doing a great job taking care of his team. Keep up the cheering!
Lots of Tail Wags, Zuma
yo zuma i love the iditarod and i want robert bundtzen to win!:) bob
Dear Zuma, My class likes Lance Mackey we want him to win.Who is your favirote musher.
Bailey
I really cheer on all the mushers because I have so many fur friends in the race. Lots of Tail Wags, Zuma
Hi zuma!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tell Jessie Royer I am cheering for her!!!!!!!
from
Sara
My class likes Lance Mackey he is good musher.We like his dog lucky but he did not go this year because he is getting old.We made little dog’s and I named mine Lucky.Who do like as a musher?We will keep on tracking Lance Mackey
Bye,
Bailey
It’s so cool to hear about the Idiarod. My teacher loves it, and were doing a reading race called idiaread. Mia
hi guy i hope that deedee wins it
hi
i’am a BIG FAN OF YOU!!!!!!!!!
love your friend Hannah
P.S. i’am 8 in colorado!!
Dear Zuma,
I love your website sooooooo much! You really are a cleaver dog! Elligh
Hey Zuma how did you become a reporter on the iditarod? Marissa
Hello Marissa,
I always had an interest in writing, even as a young pup. I liked to tell stories, too. Right out of school, I was hired as a reporter and have done so ever since. I love my job. Lots of Tail Wags, Zuma