"Medicine Hat of the Sacred Dogs"
by Julie Kramer Cole




To the Plains Indians, the horse was a miraculous gift bestowed on them by the Great Spirit.
Prior to the mid-1600s, the Native tribes, relied on camp dogs to carry their burdens. With the arrival of the horse, however, they could transport themselves and their possessions more easily and could travel great distances in order to hunt the buffalo or pursue an enemy.

The horses depicted in this painting are perceived as gifts from the sky, revered by the warrior who raises his spear in salute. The lead horse bears the markings of the Medicine Hat: brown ears and forehead. Each horse bears paintings that depict its masters exploits and accomplishments, reflecting the Great Spirit's wishes that the horse serve as an extension of its owner and a sign of wealth.