The most exciting new event at this year’s Elko County Fair is the Indian Relay!
Teams (male event followed in Elko by a female event) race on horseback around the track three times, changing horses two times, and it’s chaotic!
Horses make it around the track the first time. 5-8 riders jump off their horses and run to the next horse and vault onto its back for the second turn around the track.
Ideally this would be a beautifully choreographed movement onto the next horse but you can imagine the confusion with 5-8 horses waiting for their next turn around the track, 5-8 handlers with those horses, 5-8 horses screeching into the area as they finish their first or second lap, and 5-8 riders running for their next horse and attempting a vault onto its back. All at the same time!
Janice and I watched the hour-long PBS video about Indian Relay (“Independent Lens, Indian Relay, PBS Video”) which highlights natives from Montana and Idaho and Shoshone/Bannock from Ft Hall, Idaho. The men from Ft. Hall rode bareback as did the women who rode.
Native Americans have great affinity to the horse. I love seeing their young people take pride in this activity which seems uniquely “Indian.”
Hope the Fair Board decides to invite our friends from Ft. Hall back next year.
Cowboy John
Be Sociable, Share!
