The Buffalo Horse

Hooves pound the sod relentlessly and divots fly through the air as the horses run, turn, and attack. The buffalo veers sharply to the right and immediately turns back to charge, snorting wildly and trying desperately to either evade the hunter or scare him away. The buffalo possesses more stamina, but the horse and rider are more agile and tactical; they work together, are experienced and stay with the buffalo as if it were no challenge at all, wearing down its reserves and finally heading in for the kill.

Buffalo (more accurately, North American Bison) were not always hunted with the use of horses. It was not until the late 16th century that horses were brought into the mix. Before this, methods like the buffalo jump (running the animal over a precipice) or the buffalo pound (corralling the animal into an enclosure) were used as primary hunting methods. Once the horse was introduced, however, different methods were preferred. The hunter, mounted on horseback, would shoot the buffalo with shot guns, reloading while on horseback, and going another round, successfully downing 10 or more animals at a turn, providing the horse were trained correctly and the hunter was a good marksman.

The buffalo horse is not any one certain breed of horse; rather, it is a type of horse. Although Spanish Mustangs were among the first to be used as buffalo horses in North America, many breeds were trained into the career and used successfully, allowing more profitable hunts to be accomplished. The well trained horse was indeed the key to a successful hunt. Once the American Indians gained access to the horse and began using it as a tool, it was not long before they became excellent horsemen and employed them for everyday functions as well as for the buffalo hunt. Each rider would work very closely with their animals, training them to follow their commands. An experienced and well trained buffalo horse was worth a great deal and brought with it a certain amount of status and recognition; therefore, they generally would not be traded very often.

Those are the days gone by, however, and modern times do not require a buffalo hunt. Bison ranches are found all over the United States, and ranchers seen atop their horses in cowboy hats and western style clothing can be seen herding the animals as opposed to hunting them as in days of old. No longer is it necessary to relentlessly chase down the animals and wear out the horses while trying to reload a shotgun. And although the horses the ranchers use today are very well trained, it is not necessary to use the same techniques used for hunting the buffalo.