“The Horse Catchers“ 24" x 30”
Oil
Available at
The Legacy Gallery-Scottsdale, AZ
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.
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