In the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries capturing of wild horses was commonplace among the northern Plains Indian tribes. Besides driving the wild horses into a corral, often made from natural rock forms, there were professional horse-catchers.

They rode the fastest and strongest horses and were devoted to this endeavor full time. Before the use of the lasso, or reata, became prevalent in the latter nineteenth century these horsemen used willow branches with their ropes and passed them over the horse's neck for capture.

The wild horses roamed in groups of 30-50 mares and youngsters and were under the leadership of one stallion, who drove off other stallions. Here this group of braves were tracking their prey.