This is a terrific story with a lot of pictures. To me it was interesting that the family who is the center of the article owns OTTBs as their race horses. It makes sense, of course, but I just hadn’t really expected it.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/06/sports/indian-relay-lakota.html
Wow! That takes guts! Thanks for posting.
I’ve heard that the Native rodeos are a lot tougher, too.
It is AMAZING to see these in person! I used to think I was a pretty scrappy bareback rider, and there’s no way I could manage this. Very cool atmosphere. The article shed some light on the preparation that I didn’t know about, like the OTTBs and the training they do, and the handler’s role. At the race I saw, I do remember thinking the horses looked fine-boned, like TBs, but figured they were QH or lighter mustangs.
I’ve seen a documentary on Canadian TV about this. Impressive riding!
Does everyone know that chuckwagon horses are also OTTB? That surprised me, I was also expecting quarter horses!
But on the cost versus speed ratio, OTTB are certainly the way to go. You can get them for free, or much cheaper than any other functional horse, and even a race track washout is faster than most other horses especially at distance. My Paint can get ahead of a TB in the launch phase but the TB will keeping lapping around the turnout for half an hour after Painty is gasping and heaving by the gate 
@cllane1 :lol: Me too (in my youth-middle age) - rode trails, jumped logs, sans saddle.
Now? Not so much, though I do still poop around my indoor bareback :o
But, at speed? :eek:
PBS series The Horse had a segment that featured some backstory as well as a competition.
Very impressive the way those teens train & help bring along the younger kids.
I, too, so a special on this a few years ago. Very cool. 
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