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More than 400 years ago, the horse was an integral part of Native Americans’ daily lives and aided in a tribe’s survival. These creatures were imperative for a successful hunt but were also crucial for battle victories. The importance of this harmonious relationship has been handed down from generation to generation through oral history and, today, has developed into the most exciting and explosive competition between the Indian Nations of the Northern Plains – Indian Relay! Horse Nations intensely compete with each other throughout the summer months to earn their place at the All Nations Indian Relay Championships.
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Media Kit 2014Media Kit 2014
Professional Indian Horse Racing Association
What is PIHRA?
• PIHRA is an association of teams, individuals and sponsors who participate in the sport of Indian relay racing, Indian flat track racing, ladies Indian flat track racing and Cowboy and Indian flat track racing.
• MISSION: PIHRA will bring the fun, excitement, passion and heritage of Indian Horse Racing to a broader audience. PIHRA will strive to provide a safe and fair environment for the team participants, their horses, and the event spectators.
• Starting with Indian Relay Racing, PIHRA, as the sanctioning body, will develop a season-long championship series for each kind of racing, will ensure for each individual event promoter involved in the series that a full field of the world’s best riders and teams will participate in their event, that a uniform set of competition and safety rules will be applied, that all participants ascribe to a Uniform Code of Conduct, that all teams will be professionally attired, and that advertised purses will be paid.
What is Indian Relay?
The National Sport Of The Tribes Of the Upper Plains
Indian Relay is sport done mostly by Native Americans who live in northwestern United States. Some people say that the sport has been going on for 100 years or more, but the actual origins are unclear. Relay appears to have developed independently in different tribes and then competition between tribes commenced.
Indian relay consists of three horses and four men. One rider rides all three horses bareback, one mugger stops the incoming horse, two holders, one who sets up the horse to be exchanged, and the back holder who controls the extra horse.
The race starts in front of the grandstands. While starts vary from venue to venue, in most cases the rider is mounted on the horse at the start. The rider takes the horse once around the racetrack and comes in for the first of two exchanges. The exchanges happen in front of the grandstands. After the first exchange the rider takes the second horse once around the track and comes in for the last exchange. He then races around the track for the finish line on the final horse. In the course of the race the exchange is one of the most important aspects, because a race can be won or lost in the exchange area. For most race fans the exchange is the most exciting part of the race. During the exchange horses may blowup, flip or get away from the setup man, or the incoming horse may not stop and make the exchange very chaotic. It often becomes a classic case of organized mayhem, but is always one of the most exciting parts of a spectator’s weekend!
PIHRA Directors
Dr. Ted VlahosRichard Kail
Jeanette SassoonGary Fellers
Benita Plain Feather, Nakota/CrowCarol Murray, Blackfeet
Scotty Osborne, BlackfeetDarrin Old Coyote, CrowNewton Old Crow, CrowRobert He Does It, Crow
Otto Braided Hair, Northern CheyenneLynwood His Bad Horse, Northern Cheyenne
Calvin Ghost Bear, Oglala LakotaWilmer Mesteth, Oglala Lakota
Katherine Minthorn, Confederated Tribes of Umatilla
Feel the Action!!
Photo Release: Permission to use photos is granted; if used, please give credit to Diana Volk.Photo Release: Permission to use photos is granted; if used, please give credit to Diana Volk.
Media Contacts
Gary Fellers/Jeanette SassoonPoloGear USA561-301-0010
Nancy HarrisonAdventure Media
Professional Indian Horse Racing Association, LLC 544 Pass Creek RoadParkman, WY 82838
Phone: 248-625-9868; Fax: 248-922-4580Email: [email protected]
