Logan Red Crow Is Racing Toward History

The 24-year-old jockey from Siksika Nation is blazing a trail for women in the extreme and perilous sport of equestrian relay racing.

- Déjà Leonard

SUMMER IS WINDING down and Logan Red Crow is mounting her horse in Enoch, Alta. for one of her final races of the 2024 season. The flag drops, and she launches like lightning, reaching 70 kilometres per hour in mere seconds. There’s no saddle, no helmet, only reins, and the crowd is roaring in anticipation.

Suddenly, Red Crow leaps off her horse mid-gallop, landing on the soft red dirt track with practiced instinct, while an attendant (in racing terms, a mugger) catches the horse as it slows down. Within a fraction of a second, Red Crow has already jumped onto her second horse, who is being held by the team setter and is raring to go. It’s all a blur. “It happens so fast sometimes, I black out,” Red Crow says with a laugh.

After one final, thunderous lap, she throws up her whipstick as she crosses the finish line at the River Cree Cup. Another first-place win is under her belt.

“There were girls from the States who came out, and I just wanted to win that one,” she recalls. “I was excited.”

For the 24-year-old Blackfoot relay racer from Siksika Nation in southern Alberta, this wasn’t just another win; it’s a testament to the path she is carving for women in a sport that, until recently, had little space for them in Canada.

Indian Relay, as it has long been called, is not your average horse race: it’s raw, demanding and unforgiving. It’s also a thrill to watch. The women’s relay is a two-lap race on a soft dirt track, with the rider changing horses as quickly as possible halfway through. Watching, you can’t help but admire the speed and strength of the horses as they kick up dust on the track. You might even find yourself holding your breath, and then letting out a sigh of relief, as the riders make a smooth transition from one horse to another.