Indian Horse Relay - extreme horse racing

The exact origins of the Indian relay race, a sport rooted in the traditions of North America's indigenous peoples, remain unclear. The introduction of horses to the continent by Spanish colonisers in the 15th and 16th centuries transformed the lives of Native Americans, who had previously lived without them. Horses that escaped from European farms multiplied rapidly in the wild and became known as mustangs. Unlike their domesticated ancestors, mustangs were hardy and resilient, leading Indigenous peoples to tame them. This pivotal change gave rise to the renowned culture of horse hunters, with horses becoming essential allies in bison hunting and in conflicts, both tribal and with encroaching colonizers. From this context, equestrian competitions emerged, laying the groundwork for contemporary Chuckwagon races, rodeos, and Indian relays.

Today, the Indian Horse Relay has become a central feature of entertainment at Indigenous reservations across the Great Plains in North America, including regions in Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Oklahoma, and Nebraska, as well as in Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan in Canada. The Shoshone-Bannock tribe is acknowledged as one of the first to establish this competitive tradition over a century ago.

Characteristics of the Indian Horse Relay

This relay race is marked by its extreme nature: jockeys race without saddles or helmets, relying on reins, whips, and their legs for control. The event evokes the historical era of bison hunters, with competitors often dressed in traditional attire.

As a relay race, it involves teams of four jockeys and three horses. Each jockey completes a lap—ranging from a quarter mile to a mile—before switching to another horse for the next lap. A crucial rule stipulates that a jockey must have both feet on the ground when transitioning horses; failure to do so results in disqualification.

The team consists of specific roles. One member, the mugger, is responsible for catching the horse as the jockey dismounts. The holder or setter guides the next horse to the main jockey, while the backholder stays near the third horse to prevent any surprises. Uniformity in attire is essential for the entire team.

Additionally, every team member must be a registered Native American, with proof of their tribal affiliation documented through identification cards issued by their respective tribes. Teams often comprise family members, highlighting a sport intertwined with familial legacy, as many current riders are descendants of past competitors. Before races, families perform ceremonies to pray for the success of their loved ones.

While any horse can participate in the race, thoroughbreds are typically favored, many having previously raced at tracks in the U.S. and Canada. Teams often maintain a roster of backup horses and alternate riders.

Indian Horse Relay in the USA

Indian reservations across the United States host competitions akin to the North American Indian Days (NAID) in Montana. From May to September, large crowds gather for these exciting relay races, where betting is also a common practice. Victors of these races receive championship jackets and cash prizes.

The champions earn the opportunity to compete in the National Indian Relay Championships, also known as the “Nationals,” which take place every September at the Blackfoot State Fairgrounds in Idaho. In 2024, the Nationals were won by jockey Azeri Coby, a 20-year-old member of the Shoshone-Bannock tribe, riding for the Tissidimit Team.

Since 1997, the Sheridan WYO Rodeo in Sheridan, Wyoming, has hosted the World Championship Indian Relay Races annually. Teams compete for a substantial prize of $90,000 in the first days of July, just before the main rodeo events.

The Sheridan WYO Rodeo enforces strict regulations, including:

- Disqualification of any team if one of its horses appears on the track, creating an obstacle for the riders.

- Ensuring that horses remain on the track for the entire duration of the race.

- Participants must wear loincloths and moccasins; teams face a 10-second penalty for non-compliance with the attire rules.

- Teams can be disqualified for consuming alcohol, exhibiting unsportsmanlike behaviour, mistreating animals, or arguing with officials.

- Before the race begins, the jockey must stand dismounted, with potential assistance from a robber.

- The Sheridan WYO Rodeo reserves the right to deny participation to any team member.

- If a team’s horses are deemed unmanageable or not adequately prepared, race officials have the authority to disqualify the team.

Recently, women's teams have started taking part in Indian relay races, and there are also competitions for children and youth. Kids as young as 5 or 6 participate, riding smaller relay ponies under modified racing conditions, while teenagers aged 13-14 race alongside adults.

Indian Horse Relay in Canada

While the sport has thrived in the United States for over a century, official Indian Horse Relay races in Canada are a recent development.

The North American Indian Relay Championships are exclusive to the United States, but to compete, participants must hold sanctioned events in their country. Consequently, Canada held its inaugural official Indian Horse Relay competition in Strathmore, Alberta, in 2013, allowing Canadian racers to enter the North American championships.

The sport gained significant recognition during the 2017 North American Indigenous Games at the Calgary Stampede, a significant event celebrating Indigenous culture. That year, the Canadian Indian Relay Race Association (CIRRA) was established, complete with a dedicated Facebook page.

In September 2018, the Enoch Cree Nation near Edmonton, Alberta, hosted an Indian Horse Relay event that attracted thousands of spectators. Given the increased public interest, plans were made to extend the sport to Manitoba and British Columbia. A total of seven races occurred in Canada in 2017, and ten in 2018.

Notably, Canadian jockey Tyrell McGilvery, a member of the Whitefish Lake First Nation in northern Alberta, won the 2018 CIRRA Championship and placed 9th out of 38 at the Championship of Champions in Walla Walla, Washington. Tyrell also recently triumphed in the Chief Race tournament with a new team.

In Canada, participation among Indigenous youth in high-risk sports is actively encouraged, often serving as a way to help them navigate life challenges. As Tyson Head, a Canadian champion from the Mistawasis First Nation, said, “Young people come from nowhere to become somebody.”

In 2019, 22 teams from Canada and the U.S. competed at rodeo grounds in Bonnyville, northern Alberta, with representatives from the Kehewin Cree Nation also participating. 

The Indian Horse Relay is evolving into a more inclusive sport, with an increasing number of women entering the competitions. Notable female competitors include Paulina Alexis from the Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation near Edmonton. In 2023, a documentary titled "Aitamaako'tamisskapi Natosi: Before the Sun" featured Logan Red Crow from the Siksika Nation in southern Alberta.