Bareback thrills bring daring Indian Relay to Frontier Park

America’s first extreme sport has roots going back 300 to 400 years. Called Indian Relay, the sport is moving its championship to Cheyenne Frontier Days’ Frontier Park this year, bringing its thrilling blend of danger, beauty and incredible precision to the “Daddy of ’em All.”

Horse Nation’s Indian Relay typically brings upwards of 100 teams to Wyoming for its signature championship event. This year, celebrating its 10th anniversary and experiencing a growth spurt, the relay needed a new home. The race had been held in Casper since 2019, but organizers chose Frontier Park without even considering other locations.

“We had the idea that this would be a great place, and we eyeballed it for a long time,” said Jamie Howard, a board member for the Horse Nation Indian Relay Championship Council. “It’s just the perfect venue for us. We can get this sport in front of a lot of people.”

Each relay team has one rider, three horses, a pair of holders and a catcher known as a “mugger.” Riders have no saddle or protective gear—no helmets, no boots, no pads—on horses weighing upwards of 1,200 pounds traveling at top speeds of up to 48 mph. As horses enter the box, the rider jumps down while the horse is still moving, takes a few steps, and leaps onto the next horse. The mugger must catch and stop the speeding horse or the team risks disqualification.

“When you see it orchestrated perfectly it’s very magical,” Howard said. “It’s like a classical concert.”

Cheyenne Frontier Days CEO Tom Hirsig said the excitement rivals the rodeo itself. “If you can go, you will not be disappointed in the excitement of Indian Relay races.” The championship will be held Sept. 25-27, with daily performances beginning at 2 p.m. Tickets go on sale April 1.