Bareback Riders

It is the year of 40th birthdays for us. Today we celebrated one at Canterbury Park in Shakopee. It was the last day for horse races. We didn't win any bets, including the one we made on a horse named Uncle Ron, but we did get to see the Indian Horse Relays performed by the Cheyenne River Sioux and other nations.

Indian Horse Relay is America's first sport. Its history dates back over 400 years when the horse returned to the continent and became part if the culture of the Indian nations and plains. Each team consists of three horses and four warriors. Today, riders in full costume rode bareback on the track and exchange horses at top speeds. While I was snapping shots, one rider fell off a horse. He didn't move and was dragged from the track. He eventually did get up, but the crowd was stunned. The race continued uninterrupted.

This photo was taken after the relay as the riders were calming their horses down and returning to the winner's circle.