The Comanche and The Horse

Updated: Feb 25, 2023

The Comanche were one of the first tribes to acquire the horse from the Spanish, through trade and raiding. They considered the horse a relative and a great gift from the Creator.

Today the image of Indians on horseback is iconic. But Native Americans never set eyes on a horse before the 1400s when Europeans brought them to the New World as a weapon of conquest. The Comanche and other native peoples adapted the horse as a powerful ally in the fight to protect their land and way of life.

The Comanche consider the horse a relative and a gift from the Creator. With the horse, they became one of the greatest Native warrior cultures in North America and built one of the most extensive indigenous empires on the continent before their culture was nearly wiped out be white colonialism.

Watch this wonderful five-minute video (link below) about the Comanche and the horse, produced by PBS as part of their Native America series that first aired in 2018.

PRESS THIS LINK TO VIEW:

https://www.wliw.org/programs/native-america/the-comanche-and-the-horse-ygayvn/

"The Comanche and The Horse" originally posted on Facebook and NotesfromtheFrontier.com on March 8, 2020

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Deborah Hufford

Author, Notes from the Frontier

Deborah Hufford is an award-winning author and magazine editor with a passion for history. Her popular NotesfromtheFrontier.com blog with 100,000+ readers has led to an upcoming novel! Growing up as an Iowa farmgirl, rodeo queen and voracious reader, her love of land, lore and literature fired her writing muse. With a Bachelor's in English and Master's in Journalism from the University of Iowa, she taught students of Iowa's Writer's Workshop, then at Northwestern University, Marquette and Mount Mary. Her extensive publishing career began at Better Homes & Gardens, includes credits in New York Times Magazine, New York Times, Connoisseur, many other titles, and serving as publisher of The Writer's Handbook.

Deeply devoted to social justice, especially for veterans, women, and Native Americans, she has served on boards and donated her fundraising skills to Chief Joseph Foundation, Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW), Homeless Veterans Initiative, Humane Society, and other nonprofits.

Deborah's soon-to-be released historical novel, BLOOD TO RUBIES weaves indigenous and pioneer history, strong women and clashing worlds into a sweeping saga praised by NYT bestselling authors as "crushing," "rhapsodic," "gritty," and "sensuous." Purchase BLOOD TO RUBIES online beginning June 9. Connect with Deborah on DeborahHufford.com, Facebook, and Instagram.