Beyond the Dust and Thunder: The Heart, History, and Adrenaline of Pendleton’s Indian Relay Races 

The Indian Relay Races at the Pendleton Round-Up are far more than a simple horse race; they are a breathtaking and dangerous display of athleticism and tradition that captivates tens of thousands of spectators. This “original extreme sport” features teams consisting of a jockey, a catcher, and a holder, who work in chaotic harmony as the rider completes three laps on three different horses, executing perilous flying dismounts and remounts in the exchange zone.

The event, which has evolved from a simple race in the rodeo’s early history, is a centerpiece of a larger cultural gathering that includes the massive Indian Village encampment and celebrates the deep intersection of Native American heritage and Western rodeo culture. Ultimately, the relay’s enduring appeal lies in its authentic, high-stakes unpredictability and its powerful story of trust, heritage, and the profound bond between human and horse.

Beyond the Dust and Thunder: The Heart, History, and Adrenaline of Pendleton’s Indian Relay Races 

The air at the Pendleton Round-Up is thick with a unique perfume: a mix of sun-baked earth, trampled grass, and the sharp, sweet scent of horse sweat. It’s a smell that carries over a century of history, and nowhere is it more potent than at the edge of the track where the Indian Relay teams prepare.

Here, amid the controlled chaos, Tyler Peasley of the Omak Express team sits poised on a dancing thoroughbred, his legs gripping the animal’s bare back with an intimacy that speaks of countless hours of trust and training. There are no saddles, no stirrups—just nerve, muscle, and a symbiotic bond between human and horse that is about to be tested in one of the most electrifying and dangerous spectacles in all of sport. 

At the blare of a horn, they explode from the line. Hooves become jackhammers, launching tiny dust explosions into the September air. This is just the first lap. What follows is a breathtaking display of athleticism, precision, and pure, unadulterated chaos known as the Indian Relay Race, the crown jewel of the Pendleton Round-Up for many of the 50,000 spectators who flock to Eastern Oregon each year. 

More Than a Race: A Living Tradition on Horseback 

To call Indian Relay simply a “horse race” is a profound understatement. It is a living, breathing tradition, a team sport that blends the raw speed of thoroughbred racing with the daring acrobatics of a stunt show and the deep cultural significance of a ceremony passed down through generations. 

The event’s roots are woven into the very fabric of the Round-Up. The first program in 1910 listed a half-mile “Indian Race.” By 1913, it had evolved into the relay format seen today—a testament to its enduring appeal. Each team consists of a jockey, a catcher, and a holder. The jockey rides three laps, but on three different horses. After each lap, they charge into an exchange zone where controlled bedlam reigns. The rider vaults from his sweat-lathered mount, sprints across the dirt, and leaps onto the back of a fresh horse held steady by the holder, while the catcher must somehow stop the first 1,200-pound animal hurtling toward him at 35 miles per hour. 

“When the horse comes around the corner and comes at you, he’s going 35 miles an hour,” says Abe Grunlose, catcher for the Camp Six team, who recently separated a couple of ribs in the line of duty. The risks are immense, but for participants like Grunlose, the reward is in the rush and the camaraderie. “We like the adrenaline rush. When you win, it makes you feel pretty good being the badass team.” 

The Anatomy of an Extreme Athlete 

The jockeys are a unique breed of athlete. They require the core strength of a gymnast, the cardiovascular endurance of a mid-distance runner, and the fearless heart of a warrior—all while maintaining an exquisite feel for their equine partner. 

Ryder Abrahamson, at just 17 years old, embodies this new generation. Before his heat, he wasn’t pacing nervously but playing a languid game of corn hole, a study in focused calm. His preparation is a year-round dedication. He spends his mornings and evenings with his three thoroughbreds—Brawler, Mufasa, and Looker—not just training them, but bonding with them.

“You hang out with them,” he explains, underscoring that the relationship is foundational. To condition his body, he runs three to four miles daily and also plays on his high school football team, building the explosive power needed for those flying dismounts and remounts. 

Veterans like Tyler Peasley, a member of the Colville Tribe, represent the sport’s enduring spirit. His start was almost accidental; recruited at 14 when a team was desperate for a rider, he lost a coin toss with a friend that forced him into the saddle. He won that first race and was instantly hooked. That was over two decades ago. Now, his experience shows not just in his riding, but in his strategic patience, knowing when to hold back and when to unleash his horse’s full power down the final straightaway. 

The Pendleton Round-Up: A Tapestry of Western and Tribal Culture 

While the relay races are a headline act, the Pendleton Round-Up is a vast and vibrant tapestry of which they are just one part. The event is a unique intersection of Western rodeo culture and rich Native American tradition, a coexistence that has evolved over its 115-year history. 

The Indian Village, with its 300 teepees, is claimed to be the largest annual encampment in North America. It is not a static display but a thriving community, a place where tribal culture is lived and celebrated. The displays of regalia—exquisite, hand-beaded dresses, intricate feather work, and vibrant ribbon shirts—are not costumes but profound expressions of identity and heritage, as seen in the powerful images of a woman and child sharing this tradition with a new generation. 

The rodeo itself is a brutal ballet of skill and courage. Saddle bronc riders like Darcy Radel test their mettle against powerful horses, their ride culminating in a daring dive onto the back of a pickup man’s horse to escape harm. Steer wrestlers like Tim McGinn hurl themselves from running horses to wrestle a steer to the ground in a matter of seconds.

Meanwhile, the presence of royalty, like Round-Up Queen Sydney Dodge and Happy Canyon Princess Avery Quaempts, thundering into the arena during the opening run-in, adds a pageantry that connects the event to its deep community roots. 

All these elements—the dust-choked arena events, the vibrant village life, the shared respect for the horse—coalesce to create an experience that is far more than a spectator sport. It’s a cultural immersion. 

Why This “Original Extreme Sport” Captivates Us 

Tiah DeGrofft, President of the Pendleton Round-Up, often hears that the Indian Relay Races are the favorite event, and she understands why. “The athleticism of the riders is mind-blowing,” she says. “I’m in awe of them.” 

This awe stems from witnessing something authentically human and incredibly high-stakes. In an age of manufactured entertainment, the relay is unforgivingly real. There is no script. The potential for disaster is ever-present: a mistimed jump, a spooked horse bolting into the infield, a catcher misjudging his grab. This unpredictability is its pulse. 

But beyond the adrenaline, it’s the story it tells that resonates. It’s a story of trust—between the rider and his horses, and between the three-man team moving in flawless, frantic syncopation. It’s a story of heritage—a tradition born on the plains, preserved and perfected by Native American communities. It’s a story of pure, unvarnished passion—the kind that leads a man to flip a coin for a chance to ride, or a teenager to dedicate his youth to the love of a horse. 

As the sun sets over the grandstand, the dust settles on another day of competition. The thunder of hooves fades, replaced by the sounds of community from the Indian Village. The relay races, in their beautiful, chaotic three-minute bursts, are more than just a race. They are the beating heart of the Pendleton Round-Up, a powerful reminder of skill, history, and the unbreakable bond between human and horse, leaving everyone who witnesses them forever captivated by the dust and the glory.