MHA Nation Indian Horse relay tests riders’ skills
Arrow J team’s horse, center, rears up with Lane Cadotte of Kenel, South Dakota, hanging on during the MHA Nation Indian Horse relay held at the North Dakota State Fair July 20-21. Photo by Karen LoneFight.
Riders race at high speed during the MHA Nation Indian horse relay at the North Dakota State Fair in July. Photo by Karen LoneFight.
TK Farrier was among competitors at the MHA Nation Indian Horse relay held at the North Dakota State Fair in Minot in July. Photo by Karen LoneFight.
Ray Champ, a professional rodeo events announcer and rancher from Montana, was an announcer at the MHA Nation Indian Horse relay. Photo by Karen LoneFight.
Lawrence Baker, New Town, a widely respected emcee, served as an announcer at the MHA Nation Indian Horse relay at the State Fair this past July. Photo by Karen LoneFight.
Arrow J team’s horse, center, rears up with Lane Cadotte of Kenel, South Dakota, hanging on during the MHA Nation Indian Horse relay held at the North Dakota State Fair July 20-21. Photo by Karen LoneFight.
Riders race at high speed during the MHA Nation Indian horse relay at the North Dakota State Fair in July. Photo by Karen LoneFight.
TK Farrier was among competitors at the MHA Nation Indian Horse relay held at the North Dakota State Fair in Minot in July. Photo by Karen LoneFight.
Ray Champ, a professional rodeo events announcer and rancher from Montana, was an announcer at the MHA Nation Indian Horse relay. Photo by Karen LoneFight.
Lawrence Baker, New Town, a widely respected emcee, served as an announcer at the MHA Nation Indian Horse relay at the State Fair this past July. Photo by Karen LoneFight.
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This year's North Dakota State Fair added a second day of the MHA Nation Indian Horse Relay, a popular event at the fair.
The semi-finals were held July 20, followed by the championship July 21, at the Grandstand.
In 2025, the MHA Nation Indian Horse Relays scheduled for the State Fair were canceled after heavy rain left the track too muddy, creating unsafe conditions for both riders and horses.
The preliminary races were held July 18-19, at the MHA Nation's Healing Horse Ranch near Parshall.
The MHA Nation Indian Horse Relay features three horses and four team members competing in a high-speed bareback tradition.
The relay teams consist of one bareback rider and three ground crew members who handle the horses along the track. Because the horses are bred to run, team members must manage high energy before the race begins.
At the sound of the horn, the rider mounts the first horse bareback by grabbing its mane and takes off around the track. After completing one lap, the rider leaps off the horse in a designated box near the start-finish line and immediately mounts the next horse for another lap. The process repeats across three total horses.
Teams compete on a summer and fall circuit across Indigenous regions, vying for top cash prizes at each event.