It would be easy to imagine that the Comanche, Crow, and other Native Americans from America's breadbasket represented a timeless tradition, stretching back thousands of years. They certainly had an abundance of such traditions, but they were also bold innovators. This is an aspect of their culture not often celebrated. The story of horsemanship and the Plains Indian turns out to be a perfect example of Native innovation.
The Indian brave on horseback is one of the most classic images of popular art. It might come as a surprise to find out that those iconic scenes of Sioux warriors riding into battle reflect a scene that had a historical window of less than two centuries. The horse turns out to be a stranger to this hemisphere, and their being mastered by the Native American was a classic example of making the most out of an opportunity.
The first horses were brought to the New World by the Spanish, which means that Native American history had gone on for thousands of years without any of those familiar scenes. The Spanish knew their domination over the Indians had a lot to do with their horsemanship, so they tried to keep access to the animal and its secrets away from them. Throughout the 16th Century, too few horses were brought across the Atlantic to initiate any real population.
The Spanish eventually had to hire local Navajo and Pueblo men to take care of their growing stables. Word certainly got out about the potential of this new animal, because the 17th Century would see these local peoples frequently raiding Spanish ranches for their horses. However, it was not until near the end of that century that life on horseback became known to Native peoples beyond Southwest.
In the year 1680 Pueblo warriors handed the Spanish a major defeat, winning for themselves thousands of horses. At last the number of horses had grown large enough for continent-wide trade to become common among Native Americans. Near the turn of the 17th and 18th Centuries, the Comanches took the lead in beginning to cultivate the potential of the horse.
Comanches became the ultimate horse whisperers and the ultimate riders. In fact, they cultivated such a level of mastery in so short a time that the term "genius" is perfectly appropriate. As mounted warriors they defeated their competitors as the Khans had once ridden up before and defeated theirs, teaching the defeated just how potent a weapon the horse truly was.
The Comanches became the model of expert horsemen for the tribes north and east of them. The Texas Rangers would also become students of their techniques. They had become famous for daring physical feats, such as dangling off the sides of a galloping horse, firing arrows.
The 18th Century would see an arms race among northern peoples for mastery of the horse, which became particularly central to the all-important buffalo hunts. Some northern peoples, such as the Lakota Sioux became especially powerful, building the horseback army that would challenge the United States a century later. Their story of one of brilliant innovation.
The Indian brave on horseback is one of the most classic images of popular art. It might come as a surprise to find out that those iconic scenes of Sioux warriors riding into battle reflect a scene that had a historical window of less than two centuries. The horse turns out to be a stranger to this hemisphere, and their being mastered by the Native American was a classic example of making the most out of an opportunity.
The first horses were brought to the New World by the Spanish, which means that Native American history had gone on for thousands of years without any of those familiar scenes. The Spanish knew their domination over the Indians had a lot to do with their horsemanship, so they tried to keep access to the animal and its secrets away from them. Throughout the 16th Century, too few horses were brought across the Atlantic to initiate any real population.
The Spanish eventually had to hire local Navajo and Pueblo men to take care of their growing stables. Word certainly got out about the potential of this new animal, because the 17th Century would see these local peoples frequently raiding Spanish ranches for their horses. However, it was not until near the end of that century that life on horseback became known to Native peoples beyond Southwest.
In the year 1680 Pueblo warriors handed the Spanish a major defeat, winning for themselves thousands of horses. At last the number of horses had grown large enough for continent-wide trade to become common among Native Americans. Near the turn of the 17th and 18th Centuries, the Comanches took the lead in beginning to cultivate the potential of the horse.
Comanches became the ultimate horse whisperers and the ultimate riders. In fact, they cultivated such a level of mastery in so short a time that the term "genius" is perfectly appropriate. As mounted warriors they defeated their competitors as the Khans had once ridden up before and defeated theirs, teaching the defeated just how potent a weapon the horse truly was.
The Comanches became the model of expert horsemen for the tribes north and east of them. The Texas Rangers would also become students of their techniques. They had become famous for daring physical feats, such as dangling off the sides of a galloping horse, firing arrows.
The 18th Century would see an arms race among northern peoples for mastery of the horse, which became particularly central to the all-important buffalo hunts. Some northern peoples, such as the Lakota Sioux became especially powerful, building the horseback army that would challenge the United States a century later. Their story of one of brilliant innovation.
About the Author:
If you would like more Plains Indian info, come to the Arapaho Legends website. To find out more on the Blue Sky People who, not that long ago, hunted the buffalo and protected our families on the Great Plains of the Rocky Mountain region, go to http://www.arapaholegend.com today.
No comments:
Post a Comment