The cani kart, a very ecological ride | Vacances en Auvergne – Maison du Tourisme du Livradois Forez

Group work

Christian is in charge of tying them up, but the closer we get to them, the more excited they get. In all, there are twelve dogs who will pull us along for the ride. I take the time to get to know some of them. I confess I can’t remember all their names. But they’re all beautiful Nordic dogs. Some have very long heads, while others have white and brown or white and grey coats. Amongst this horde of canines, there’s one who looks at me with his big minnow eyes, impatiently waiting to be stroked. This one is Lascar. And needless to say, he’s my favorite.

Once the carriage is in place, the ride can begin. As soon as Christian releases the brake, we’re off at dog speed. Strategic places are reserved for them. Naturally, the leaders are in first place. These are the dogs with the most training, the oldest ones, the ones who are most excited to get going. Last on the list is the newest member of the family. Open is only 14 months old and is experiencing his first races. He seems a little more fearful and keeps turning around to look at us. Perhaps he wants to check that we’re still there.

A breath of fresh air

The ride lasts three kilometers, enough time for a breath of fresh air, especially as I have the best seat. Behind me, standing next to Christian, we take in every jolt as he tells me the story of his dogs. There are also two comfortable seats up front. In the end, the ride is smoother than I expected. Christian probably had to keep the brake on to prevent us from taking off. Too bad, it could have been fun.

Still, it’s great to be out in the wilderness with Nordic dogs. First stop, the twelve canines throw themselves into a mud-filled ditch. “They do it all the time,” says Christian with a smile. It’s a real passion for Christian, who has been practicing this activity for some twenty years. After several stops to stroke the fur balls, we came back to square one in a more or less controlled turn. To my great surprise, I was surprised to find that this kind of activity was practiced in the Loire.