It has already been mentioned how the horse revolutionized the mode of transportation and the economy of many Indian peoples and led to the typical way of life found in the Great Plains Culture Area. With horses the Indians could travel great distances. They could also carry heavy loads with them on the trail. And they could hunt and do battle while mounted on them.
Many of the Plains Indians had originally used dogs to carry possessions. (Interestingly, some peoples called the horse by terms that translate as “sacred dog,” “spirit dog,” and “medicine dog.”) The dogs pulled two poles tied together in the shape of a V; the closed end rested on their shoulders, and the open end on the ground, with hide stretched between the poles. These primitive sleds are called travois. Women sometimes also pulled travois. But with horses, Indians could utilize much larger travois and place many more supplies on them. Horse travois could even support the sick or elderly or children if need be. And the wooden framework doubled as tipi poles.
In addition to travois, Plains Indians crafted other gear for horses. They generally rode bareback, with only a rawhide thong noosed around the horse’s lower jaw as a bridle. But some Indians used blankets or small hide saddles stuffed with buffalo hair or grass. Others used more elaborate wooden saddles covered with deerskin and decorated with beadwork, plus decorated stirrups and bridles. Leather and beadwork ornaments were sometimes attached to bridles or draped over the horse’s shoulders. Parfleches (leather bags) were also hung from saddles. And some Indians painted their war mounts with symbols, or trimmed and dyed their mounts’ manes and tails, or placed eagle feathers or ribbons in their manes.
Plains Indian travois
However they chose to ride, Plains Indians proved among the best horsemen in the world. Their prowess on the hunt or in battle was legendary. With only ropes tied around their horses’ neck, in which they hooked their elbows, some warriors could suspend themselves along the flanks, using the animals as shields, and shoot arrows under their necks. Grasping their mount firmly with their legs, some warriors could also bend over far enough while moving to pick up wounded comrades.
Horses became a sign of wealth for Plains Indians. Some war chiefs were known to own 1,000 animals personally. A man commonly gave horses to the family of his wife-to-be. Indians acquired horses that had gone wild and tamed them, but also carried out raids to take other tribes’ horses. Plains Indians became skilled breeders as well as riders. They chose the fastest and most responsive stallions for breeding. Indian ponies consistently outperformed the larger U. S. Army mounts in battle during warfare on the plains during the 1800s.
World History
