When she is not preparing for a race, Marla Brodsky offers a glimpse into her daily life at Hilltown Sleddogs, where visitors can meet her team of Alaskan Huskies. Guests get the full experience, meeting each of her 22 dogs, harnessing them, and going for a ride in snow or dry land.
Handler Aurélie Lecoultre, who is abroad in Massachusetts from France to practice sports massage for animals, lends a helping hand at Hilltown Sleddogs. Lecoultre keeps the dogs in tip-top shape, cleaning up after them, assisting with their raw feed diet, and checking their paws for contusions before each run.
The dogs at Hilltown Sleddogs eagerly pack into their transport vehicle on their way to a practice mushing in a nearby field. Their owner, Marla Brodsky is training them for the upcoming Can-Am Crown International Dog Sled Race in March. The dogs have competed throughout New England, the Midwest, and Canada.
Before a run, each dog is inspected, harnessed, and assigned their position. Sixteen dogs drive the sled, while the remaining six are on standby in case one of the running dogs becomes fatigued or injured during practice. The Hilltown Sleddogs are currently preparing for the 250 mile Can-Am Crown International in March.
The Hilltown Sleddogs leap for joy as they anticipate their run, while the rest of the dogs are inspected and strapped on. Before each run, the dogs have their paws inspected. If necessary, a soft boot is applied to protect them from further scrapes or blisters. These Alaskan Huskies are preparing for the 250 mile Can-Am Crown International in Maine.
Marla Brodsky and her team of Alaskan Huskies from Hilltown Sleddogs train in Western Massachusetts for the 250 mile Can-Am Crown International Race in Maine. Brodsky has dedicated her life to her mushing since she observed the sport while traveling in Alaska during 2007. Living entirely off the grid with her 22 dogs, she is determined to cross the finish line this March.
Marla Brodsky trained in Alaska with Iditarod and Yukon Quest Champion Mushers, when a lead dog was retired to her. Today she tends to twenty two dogs at her home in Western, Massachusetts. The dogs compete in both snow and dry land, but when they are not competing, they enjoy showing their affection to visitors.
Marla Brodsky lives entirely off the grid with her twenty two Alaskan Huskies in Massachusetts. The property is completely self sufficient, no electricity, and no plumbing. Dog waste is composted and shared with a local farm, and raw meat unfit for human consumption is obtained from local slaughterhouses to feed the dogs.