Anticipation abounds among spectators packing the stands. A horn blasts, pushing the crowd into an exhilarating uproar and initiating the sound of thunderous hooves on the racetrack, coordinating with the hammering heartbeats of the contestants. Flashes of vibrant colour and stunning thoroughbred horses blaze by spectators whose attentions are gripped and have them on the edge of their seats, utterly amazed by what they are witnessing. It is a race performed bareback and with just reins. An event that is referred to as the original “extreme” sport.
This is Indian Relay Racing. The origins of how and when this sport started offer assorted answers when researched. It would seem variations of these races have been around for centuries. How it all began and its evolution into what the sport is now can mean something different depending on who you ask. It is believed that historically, it was a way for warriors to prove their athleticism by jumping onto a horse bareback and riding off at top speed. Liz Read, Administrator for the EIRA (Elite Indian Relay Association), says,
Indian Relay started for some tribes not as a competition, nor about winning money, but about survival and hunting.
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From what was then to what is now, venues are selling out for these races, which are quickly gaining popularity across North America. Teams comprised of three thoroughbred horses and four humans race on a dirt track to participate in a sport that demands athleticism, horsemanship, and grit. Positions on a relay team are a Back-holder (a person to keep the horse calm before a rider jumps onto its back), a Mugger (someone who catches the horse after the rider jumps off), a Setter (who sets up the horse for the next lap), and a Jockey, the rider.
Each relay team is adorned in vibrant colours; symbols painted onto the horse and human members of the team. The significance of the painting of the horses and jockeys symbolizes where the team is from. Each nation has its own symbols and can paint any designs they choose onto their horses. Painting the horses is methodical and done with intention; it’s symbolic and spiritual.
A common denominator among First Nations people is the significance of the horse spirit and the connection between a rider and the horse. When watching the horse and rider within one of these relay teams, the importance of that connection is evident. Jockeys and their thoroughbreds run at top speed, leaving their imprints on a dirt track as the horses kick up dirt and fight to leave their competitors in the dust. After one lap, the jockey jumps from the moving horse, runs toward the next one before jumping boldly onto its back, and then does it all again – three times, to be exact. The exchange is where accidents may happen. Most teams racing will arrive for the exchange at nearly the same time, and collisions do occur. Skill, attention, and training for these teams are required.
Vern “Stick” Antoine, President of the EIRA, says that training for these relay teams is a year-long commitment. Vern will buy thoroughbreds once they are used on the racetrack or on the chuckwagons. Usually, he buys horses around the age of 4 years old, and he places emphasis on his choices based on a horse’s race form; he can just see it in them as they run. Vern has a racetrack at home, where his grandson, Courage, and son, Lyndon, train horses for the Stick Racing team. The team’s horses are frequently exercised to keep them in shape. Additional training is done so horses will stand still while jockeys leap and jump onto their backs.
Courage Antoine
Courage Antoine, aged 15, is the lead jockey for the Stick Racing team. Vern says there is no age limit for the jockeys to be on a team; they just need to know how to ride. Courage has been riding nearly his entire life, and he trains the team’s horses, too. Courage trains newly acquired horses without a saddle to get them used to being ridden bareback. Vern says that his grandson Courage has the job of ‘taking the buck out of the horses’—an important job indeed. We asked Courage if he could share any tips for riding a horse bareback at such extreme speeds as he manages it so effortlessly. Courage simply answered by saying, “Just grab the horse’s hair and balance. It just becomes a natural feeling.”
Lakeisha Ross
Lakeisha quickly became a fan favourite at the relay races in Kamloops, BC. The crowd really got going for Lakeisha as she participated in the race against the men’s teams, says Vern.
Among the Stick Racing team is lady warrior Lakeisha Ross, age 16. This talented rider has been working with horses from a very young age. “For as long as I can remember, I was always on a horse,” says Lakeisha. A former barrel racer accustomed to riding quarter horses, she had always had a dream to race with the lady warrior relay teams. At age twelve, she switched her path and began riding thoroughbreds bareback to train for relay racing. Lakeisha now spends her summers traveling and competing with the Stick Racing team, and she is loving it. She especially loves the adrenaline rush of the races, and finishing the race is the best feeling for her. Lakeisha says, “It’s a relief that I did well and that everyone is safe, and what I’m doing on the racetrack feels good.” She does admit that the races become intense and get to her, but Lakeisha pushes through the emotions and rides, proving to herself she can do it and also making her family proud.”
This young lady makes riding a thoroughbred racehorse look easy, and when asked if she uses any special techniques to ride these horses bareback at top speed, she said, “I just sit naturally and go.” Lakeisha does indicate, however, that she places much thought into each race and rides with intention. She’s always considering what can be improved from one race to the next. Also, Lakeisha is a big believer in having a bond with her horse. Before each race, she will talk to her horse, but there have been times when she’s had to quickly jump onto the backs of unfamiliar horses.
Together as a team, she said, they all recite the Indian Relay Racing Prayer, written by Mansel Stone, before each race.
Indian Relay Racing has fans abuzz and eager for more. The EIRA organizes many teams to race mostly within Canada but in the United States as well. Race hosts are paying out winnings of $50,000 to $100,000 per race. Within this sport, that money is split among all teams so everyone can be funded to continue participating. If the sport continues to evolve as it has in recent years, we are likely to see much more of these phenomenal athletes and their incredible horses for generations to come.
To learn more about this sport and for scheduling information, please visit the EIRA Facebook page.
Thank you to the Vern “Stick” Antoine and the Stick Racing team, Courage Antoine, Lady warrior Lakeisha Ross, Mansel Stone Jr. & Stone Stables Racing team, and Prairie Fox Photography, we thank you for letting us share your story.
Article by Amber Zierath, Photography credits Maureen Enns
About Amber
Amber is a Calgary-based, equine-focused writer and the author of the best-selling fiction novel Horse Karma. When she isn’t writing, you’ll find her with the horses; riding bareback in the mountains or spending time with the 60 geldings that inspire her. Learn more at: www.amberzierath.com.
