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.
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.