Dust. It’s the first thing you taste. Before the horses even break from the line, the air at the track is thick with it, mixed with the sharp scent of sweat and sagebrush. If you’ve never stood on the rail at a fairground in Sheridan or Pendleton, you probably think horse racing is all about mint juleps and fancy hats. Forget that. Indian relay horse racing is something else entirely. It is loud. It is dangerous. It is, quite frankly, the most electrifying three minutes you will ever experience in a grandstand.
The premise is simple, but the execution is absolute chaos. One rider. Three horses. Two exchanges. You start from a dead stop, fly around the track at breakneck speeds, and then—this is the part that makes your heart stop—you jump off a moving horse and vault onto a fresh one. No saddle. Just a bit of mane and raw grit.
What Indian relay horse racing actually looks like on the ground
Most people see a highlight reel and think it’s just a scramble. It isn’t. There is a deep, rhythmic strategy to how a team operates. A standard team consists of four people: the rider, the "mugger" who catches the incoming horse, and two "holders" who keep the next horses ready.
Think about the physics here. You’re coming in hot on a Thoroughbred that’s been bred for centuries to run and never stop. You have to decelerate just enough to slide off the left side without getting trampled, while your mugger tries to grab the bridle of a half-ton animal that is still vibrating with adrenaline. If the mugger misses, or the horse spooks, the rider hits the dirt. Hard.
The Horse Nations Indian Relay Council (HNIRC) and the Professional Indian Horse Racing Association (PIHRA) are the big names keeping the rules straight. They’ve turned what used to be a local weekend tradition into a professional circuit with serious prize money. But even with the jerseys and the sponsorships, the soul of the sport remains rooted in the Lakota, Blackfeet, Crow, and Shoshone-Bannock nations. It’s a living connection to a time when your horse was your life, your transportation, and your partner in war.
The grit behind the glory
You don't just "try" Indian relay horse racing. You live it. Riders like Brian Beetem or the members of the Abrahamson family have spent decades perfecting the vault. It’s a specialized kind of athleticism. You need the explosive power of a sprinter to mount a horse from the ground and the balance of a gymnast to stay on a bareback horse leaning into a 35-mile-per-hour turn.
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Most of these horses are off-the-track Thoroughbreds. They are fast, tall, and notoriously high-strung. Taking a horse trained for a starting gate and teaching it to stand still while a human leaps onto its spine is a feat of horsemanship that doesn't get enough credit in the mainstream equestrian world.
The high stakes of the exchange
The exchange is where races are won or lost. You’ll see a rider trailing by twenty lengths, but if they have a "clean" exchange—meaning they hit the ground and are back in the air on the next horse in under two seconds—they can erase that lead instantly.
There’s a specific sound when a rider hits the dirt and bounces back up. It’s a thud followed by a grunt. Sometimes they don't bounce back up. I’ve seen riders get kicked, stepped on, or dragged. The safety measures have improved over the years, with better track prep and stricter rules on horse welfare, but you can’t sanitize the risk out of this sport. That risk is exactly why the crowd goes wild. It’s authentic. You can't fake a 15-foot flying leap onto a moving animal.
Why the "Indian" part matters
Calling it "Indian relay" isn't just a descriptor; it’s an identity. For many Indigenous communities in the Great Plains, the horse—the sunka wakan in Lakota—changed everything. It changed how they hunted, how they moved, and how they fought. When the U.S. government tried to dismantle tribal cultures in the 19th century, they often targeted the horses. Killing the horses was a way to kill the spirit of the people.
Relay racing is a middle finger to that history. It’s a reclamation.
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When you see a team come out in traditional regalia for the parade lap, it’s not for the tourists. It’s a tribute to ancestors. The paint on the horses—the circles around the eyes for keen vision, the handprints on the flanks—those are old symbols. They mean something.
The circuit and where to see it
If you want to see the real deal, you have to head West. The season usually kicks off in the late spring and runs through the fall. The "Big Three" are generally considered the Sheridan WYO Rodeo in Wyoming, the Crow Fair in Montana, and the Pendleton Round-Up in Oregon.
- Sheridan, WY: Often hosts the World Championship. The energy is claustrophobic in the best way.
- Crow Fair (Bozeman/Hardin area): This is the "Tipi Capital of the World." The racing here is deeply communal.
- Pendleton, OR: The historic track and the "Let 'er Buck" atmosphere make it a bucket-list item for any sports fan.
It's not just the big shows, though. You’ll find relay races at tiny county fairs across Idaho, Washington, and South Dakota. The smaller the venue, the closer you get to the action. Sometimes you’re so close you get hit with the clods of dirt flying off the hooves.
Common misconceptions about the sport
People often ask: Is it cruel to the horses? Honestly, if you watch these animals, they are more "game" than almost any other horse I've seen. They know the routine. A relay horse often starts prancing the moment it hears the announcer's voice. The teams treat these horses like family members—often because they are the most valuable assets the family owns.
Another myth? That it’s a lawless free-for-all. While it looks chaotic, there are strict penalties. If a horse gets loose in the exchange box, the team is disqualified. If a rider interferes with another team, they’re out. The judges at the HNIRC take this incredibly seriously to ensure the safety of both the human and equine athletes.
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The financial reality of the track
Let’s talk money. It isn't cheap to run a relay team. You need a dually truck, a massive trailer, feed for at least three to five horses, travel funds, and entry fees. For a lot of teams, they are living on the road, chasing purses that might barely cover their diesel.
Sponsorships are starting to trick out the sport. You’ll see local tribal businesses, casinos, and even national brands starting to put logos on the riders' jerseys. It’s a professionalizing movement, but it’s still a grassroots hustle for 90% of the competitors. They do it for the belt buckles, the bragging rights, and the sheer love of the run.
The role of women in relay
For a long time, the spotlight was strictly on the men’s races. That’s changed. Women’s relay is exploding in popularity. The riders are just as fast, the exchanges are just as dangerous, and the competition is arguably more fierce because the field is still growing. Watching the ladies' teams at the Muckleshoot Gold Cup or the Emerald Downs events is a masterclass in finesse. They often bring a different level of precision to the exchange that is incredible to witness.
How to actually watch a race like a pro
If you find yourself at a track, don't just stare at the horses running. Watch the exchange boxes. That is where the race is won.
- Look at the mugger. Is he standing firm? A good mugger is an anchor. If he flinches, the horse is gone.
- Check the "set." The holders should have the second and third horses positioned perfectly. If a horse is sideways, the rider loses seconds trying to straighten it out.
- Listen to the crowd. The tribal sections will be cheering for specific families. Follow their lead; they know who the "fast" horses are this season.
Practical steps for fans and newcomers
If you're genuinely interested in following Indian relay horse racing, don't just wait for a random TV clip. The best way to support the sport and understand its depth is to engage with the communities that built it.
- Follow the official associations: Check the PIHRA (Professional Indian Horse Racing Association) or HNIRC websites for the current season schedule. These calendars are the only way to know where the sanctioned points races are happening.
- Respect the culture: When attending a race on tribal lands, remember you are a guest. Many events begin with prayers or songs that aren't just "opening acts." They are the foundation of the event.
- Support the teams directly: Many teams sell their own merchandise—t-shirts, caps, and stickers. Buying directly from a team at the track is often the best way to help them get to the next town.
- Look for the "Youth" races: If you want to see the future of the sport, watch the kids. They start on ponies, doing "mini" relays. It's adorable, sure, but it's also where you see the next generation of champions honing their skills.
Indian relay horse racing is more than just a sport; it’s a heartbeat. It’s a high-velocity bridge between a storied past and a modern, competitive future. Whether you’re there for the sheer adrenaline or the cultural significance, one thing is certain: once you’ve seen a rider fly through the air and land perfectly on a galloping Thoroughbred, you’ll never look at a "normal" horse race the same way again.
The next time the circuit hits your region, get a ticket, get to the rail, and get ready to eat a little dust. It’s worth every second.