“The Culture of the Horse”

Footpath by Southwest Crossroads

Introduction
The Spaniards’ earliest explorations, or entradas, into the New World brought significant changes to the peoples living in the American Southwest. Beginning in the 1500s, the Spanish introduced the horse in their journeys through the land and their battles with the indigenous populations.

Native Americans, particularly the Apache, Navajo, and Utes, quickly adapted to horses. Horses enabled them to travel great distances, mount raiding parties on Pueblo and Spanish settlements, engage in battle and, eventually serve as scouts with the United States Army.

The horse has played a significant part in settling the American Southwest. Native American, Hispano, and later Anglo settlers established cattle ranches, roamed the range, and drove cattle drives. The American cowboy culture came into being.

Slideshow

View historical photographs of horses.

Selections

Read one of the selections.

Questions

Answer questions.

Related Material

Related materials are selections that are related to this Footpath’s topic.

Content	Citation Information
	No. 000773 Title: Kingston in the Old Days Source(s): Black Range Tales Author(s): Howard Simon (Artist); James A. McKenna (Author) Description: Black and white woodcut: Kingston village scene. Publisher: High-Lonesome Books Publication Date: 2002 Collection(s): Catalog Number: p. 298-A Credits:
	No. 000559 Title: Killer-of-Enemies Source(s): Myths and Legends of the Lipan Apache Indians Author(s): Traditional; Morris Opler (Editor) Description: Killer-of-Enemies creates a landscape and customs for the Lipan Apache people. Publisher: American Folklore Society Publication Date: 1940 Collection(s): Catalog Number: Credits: Note: The School for Advanced Research Press has done its best to identify, locate, and request permission from copyright holders. We respectfully ask users to contact us if they have information about the identity or address of copyright holders whom we were unable to reach. We will be happy to take the appropriate steps to obtain permission.
	No. 000737 Title: The Utes Author(s): Southwest Crossroads Spotlight Description: A brief history of the Utes. Publisher: SAR Press, School for Advanced Research Publication Date: 2006 Collection(s): Catalog Number: Credits:
	No. 000703 Title: Agarró nomás la Cuarto [He Just Grabbed the Whip] Source(s): Abuelitos: Stories of the Rio Puerco Valley Author(s): Eduardo Valdez (Author); Nasario García (Editor) Description: Oral historian Nasario García interviewed many elders from the Río Puerco area of New Mexico, including Eduardo Valdez, who remembers the early days and the best cowboy around, Don Teodoro. Publisher: University of New Mexico Press; Published in Cooperation with the Historical Society of New Mexico Publication Date: 1992 Collection(s): Catalog Number: pp. 34-35 Credits: Excerpt courtesy University of New Mexico Press. Nasario García (collected and edited by).
	No. 000522 Title: Who Were the Lipan and the Kiowa-Apaches? Author(s): Southwest Crossroads Spotlight Description: An introduction to the Lipan and Kiowa-Apache peoples. Publisher: SAR Press, School for Advanced Research Publication Date: 2005 Collection(s): Catalog Number: Credits:
	No. 000581 Title: Tennyson Berry (Kiowa Apache), 1913 Author(s): DeLancy Gill (Photographer) Description: Portrait of Kiowa Apache Tennyson Berry, 1913. Publisher: Publication Date: Collection(s): Palace of the Governors Catalog Number: DCA 59438 Credits: DeLancy Gill (photographer), Courtesy Palace of the Governors (MNM/DCA) #59438
	No. 000367 Title: Apache Camp Author(s): Unidentified (Photographer) Description: Teepees in Apache Camp, Otero County, NM. Publisher: Publication Date: Collection(s): Palace of the Governors Catalog Number: DCA 2091 Credits: Unidentified Photographer, Courtesy Palace of the Governors (MNM/DCA) #2091
	No. 000620 Title: Mescalero Apache Tipis, ca. 1906 Author(s): H. F. Robinson (Photographer) Description: Mescalero Apache Tipis, ca. 1906. Publisher: Publication Date: Collection(s): Palace of the Governors Catalog Number: DCA 36086 Credits: H. F. Robinson (photographer), Courtesy Palace of the Governors (MNM/DCA) #36086

Navigation

Footpaths

“The Culture of the Horse”

Footpath by Southwest Crossroads

“The Culture of the Horse”

Footpath by Southwest Crossroads