By riding horses, Plains Indians could travel from place to place faster than ever before.
A mounted hunter or warrior had an enormous advantage over slow-moving prey or an unmounted enemy. He could even pursue stampeding buffalo and follow herds of these beasts wherever they roamed in any kind of weather.
By allowing them to hunt buffalo much of the year, the horse ensured that the Native Americans would have plenty of meat to eat and enough hides to make their clothing and tipis.
Related Posts
-
Where did horses in North America come from and did Plains Indians always ride horses?
Small prehistoric horses once lived in North America, but they died out about 10,000 years ago. The Plains Indians did not have the type of horse we know now until Spaniards brought them…
-
When did the American Indians of the Great Plains start riding horses?
The image of the American Indian hunting buffalo on horseback may seem eternal, but it isn't. There were no horses at all in the Americas until the Spanish conquistadors brought them. In 1540,…
-
Why is the Return of the Buffalo an important symbol to Plains Indians and When was the Inter-Tribal Bison Cooperative formed?
In 1991, on a chilly day in February, leaders from 19 tribes came together in the Black Hills of South Dakota to discuss what they could do to bring back the buffalo. During…
-
Where does the phrase “hold your horses” come from and What does “hold your horses” mean?
The phrase "hold your horses" means: Don't be in too great a hurry; take it easy; watch your step; keep your shirt on; be patient; control your temper. This homely admonition traces back…
-
Where Is the Great Plains Located and Which States Are Part of the Great Plains?
The Great Plains is defined as the vast grassland region in central North America that extends from northern Canada into New Mexico and Texas in the United States. It also covers parts of…
-
What are the Great Plains and Where are the Great Plains located?
The Great Plains are a vast area of flat, grassy land in the center of North America. East to west, the plains stretch from the Mississippi River Valley to the Rocky Mountains. North…
