Ski joëring near Megève, at Les Saisies

Skis on your feet, hands on a bar attached to a horse, you let yourself be pulled along at walking pace, then at a trot, sometimes at a gallop: ski joëring combines elements of horsemanship and skiing. Megève has seen it take place in the resort, but the activity no longer features in the local tourism office’s current offerings. The closest option we have been able to verify for winter 2026-2027 is nearby: at Les Saisies, 25km from Megève via the Val d’Arly. Here is what you need to know before you set out.

And in Megève?

Ski joëring has a place in the resort’s history: in January 1996, France 2’s 8pm news filmed a ski joëring race in Megève and a snow polo match. More recently, the Cheval de Feug equestrian farm in Demi-Quartier offered morning introductions and, with Megève’s ESF, evening lessons on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The approach was progressive: initially guided by a rider directing the horse, the skier would then progress to managing the glide, direction and speed independently.

However, the page describing these options has not been updated since April 2024, ski joëring does not appear either on the “Winter Activities” page or in the farm’s current price list, and the Megève tourism office no longer lists the activity. Before counting on it, enquire directly with the Cheval de Feug.

At Les Saisies, a dedicated slope

Les Saisies Aventures offers ski joëring on a groomed, gently undulating slope reserved for the activity. You are pulled by horses and ponies at walking pace, at a gentle trot and even at a gallop. Three options are available: an introductory session on suitable terrain, an improvement option in the form of a several-kilometre ride, or a coaching course. The introductory session lasts around twenty minutes.

You need not be an accomplished skier or an experienced rider: second-star level is sufficient, and the horses’ pace adapts to that of the skiers. The Les Saisies tourism office also mentions adaptive ski joëring: details should be clarified when booking.

AEC’s recommendation. For younger children too small for ski joëring, the pony-sledging at the Cheval de Feug in Demi-Quartier is an excellent introduction: a parent guides the pony that pulls the child sitting in a small wooden sledge. The Megève tourism office lists it from 21 December 2026 to 20 March 2027, for ages 3 to 8, by request and subject to sufficient snow cover.

From Lapland’s reindeer to the Lake of Saint-Moritz

The word comes from the Norwegian skikjøring, meaning “skiing traction”. For centuries, the Sámi harnessed reindeer to travel on skis through the snow, and reindeer-pulled skiing featured at the Nordic Games in Stockholm in 1901, 1905 and 1909. In the early twentieth century, the Swiss turned it into a tourism and sporting discipline, and the races at Saint-Moritz remain the most famous: the White Turf, organised on the lake since 1907, continues to be its flagship event.

On 12 February 1928, ski joëring was even presented as a demonstration sport at the Winter Olympics in Saint-Moritz, on the lake, with eight competitors. In France, the winter use of horses disappeared after the Second World War, before reappearing in the late 1990s. In competition, skis must not exceed 1.50m so as not to hinder the animal, and a helmet is mandatory.

Where to stay

For ski joëring, Les Saisies is only 25km away, with two large free car parks on site; for everything else, Megève offers plenty to fill a winter in the company of horses and dogs. See our page on horse-drawn carriages in Megève, our page on dog sledding, our page on Megève’s ski area and our guide What to do in Megève in winter. Our agents can guide you according to your group: find our chalets and apartments in Megève.

The sound of the horse’s breath before you, the rope drawing taut, the snow slipping beneath your skis at the first trot: a few minutes are all it takes to understand why this ancient form of skiing has never quite disappeared from the Alps.

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