Warrior relay racing

Earlier this month, Tammi Palmarchuk attended the Canada Day celebration at the Rocky Mountain Turf Club in Lethbridge, Alberta. One of the highlights of her day was the Warrior (Indian) Relay Race. She took a whole slew of photos and has kindly allowed me to share them here.

Warrior Relay is a sport practiced by men and women from tribal nations across the Rocky Mountain West.

Typically, races are contested by up to eight teams, each consisting of a rider, three handlers and three horses.

The competitors ride bareback.

Each rider carries a whip. At various points in the race, this will be held in either the mouth...

or the hand.

Races start in front of the grandstands, from a standing start.

The riders complete one circuit around the track.

When they reach the grandstands again, each rider jumps off his horse.

The first horse is caught by a team mate. 

The rider then mounts a second horse.

And off they go for a second lap around the track!

When they reach the grandstands a second time, there is another change of horse. 

The third lap is the final one. Whoever crosses the finish line first wins.

It's an exciting, fast paced event that is tailor made for the model horse performance ring.

Thank you, Tammi, for sharing these photos. It looks like you had an amazing Canada Day!