The Horse and the Plains Indians

Gr 4–8—In this companion to The Buffalo and the Indians (Clarion, 2006), Patent and Muñoz show how the introduction of horses to North America transformed the lives of the Native American tribes living on or near the Great Plains. The book opens with a chapter on the "dog days" before horses, when Plains Indians used dogs for hunting buffalo and as pack animals. Subsequent chapters discuss how they "acquired" Spanish horses and rapidly developed an equine culture that revolutionized their buffalo-based existence and changed economic, social, and inter-tribal relationships throughout the region. Patent also examines how tribes incorporated the horse into their cultural and spiritual beliefs and rituals and warfare. She concludes with a discussion of how white expansion and confinement to reservations threatened the relationship between horses and Native people and describes the modern resurgence of Plains Indians horse culture, including tribal fairs and riding events that highlight their traditions and rituals. This book shares the same format as the previous title, and it features a well-written and readable narrative, appealing and informative full-color photographs, and reproductions of period illustrations. Although the two titles complement each other and give readers a comprehensive look at Plains Indian culture, this book can also stand alone and is certain to draw readers who are interested in Native American history or horses, making it a good choice for middle level collections.—Mary Mueller, formerly at Rolla Junior High School, MO