Horses

Mountain West

Malachite’s Big Hole

Mountain Men and Life in the Rocky

Horses:

Early efforts to exploit the fur resources of the Rocky Mountains attempted to utilize the rivers for transportation as much as possible. In spite of this, early trappers and explorers still found it necessary to acquire horses from the Indians. Lewis & Clark relied on the Shoshone Indians to provide horses to cross the Rocky Mountains to the Columbia River basin. Then in 1811, the Overland Astorians found horses necessary when they were forced to abandon the river route much sooner than they had anticipated to avoid hostile Indians (See Ramsay Crooks). The year 1823 would see the horse become the primary means of transportation for the Mountain Men. It was in this year that Ashley and Henry would have their disastrous encounter with the Arikaree Indians as they attempted to move a fur brigade upriver to the Upper Missouri River country. After losing fifteen men killed and nine wounded, Ashley decided to avoid the river entirely. He would trade for horses from friendly Indians, and would send his men and pack supplies on horseback.

Trappers and traders now entered the Great Plains and Rocky Mountain region on the backs of horses and mules. No longer were they tied to the great rivers, and exploration and exploitation exploded across the semi-arid regions of the West. However, unlike the canoe and keelboat, this form of transportation requires food, water, and rest for the animals. During the spring through

fall, grass was widely available for pasturage, except in the desert Great Basin. In the winter when fodder might be buried beneath feet of snow, the bark of "Sweet" cottonwood would be stripped from the trunks and used as feed. Rufus Sage writes: "horses and mules...thrive upon it in a remarkable manner, and even in summer months they prefer it to grass. The bark of red elm is also used..."

Both horses and mules were favored animals, however, they were treated as expendable tools, not as friends or pets. The reports and journals of the Mountain Men are filled with stories of horses dying as a result of hard use, lack of food or water, falling off cliffs, freezing, drowning or being killed for the food they could provide during starving times. “Ya don’t name somethin’ ya might have ta eat” sums up the relation between the mountain man and his horse. In fact though many Mountain Men did name their horses and mules.

The horse in the 1830's was not as large as their modern descendents. Pictures drawn by contemporary artists indicate that these horses probably averaged about 14 hands high, and probably weighed about 700 pounds. Of coarse their riders were also much smaller. Men in the 1830's averaged about 5"8" and weighed about 140 pounds. The picture at left, titled “The Lost Greenhorn” is by Alfred Jacob Miller done in 1837 when he accompanied William Drummond Stewart, a wealthy Scotsman, to the mountains.

Indians, both hostile and friendly, considered horses extremely desirable, and would steal any horses or mules not closely guarded, no matter who they belonged to, foe or friend. Horse stealing amongst Indians was done as much for the challenge and sport as it was for need. Many Indian tribes did not have a distinct word for horses, commonly referred to horses as "Medicine Dogs" or “Big Dogs.”

While traveling in a brigade, each man would usually be responsible for his own horse, plus two or three pack animals. A horse could carry two one-hundred pound packs, one pack on each side of the horse strapped to the pack saddle. Each day would start with a small breakfast if any and coffee. Around noon, the brigade would halt for about two hours mostly to allow the horses to feed and water. The march would resume until late afternoon, or until a campsite

with adequate water, graze and firewood was found. In setting up camp, all of the packs, saddles, tents and other gear were formed into a rough square. Horses were hobbled or tethered to graze until dark, then all the animals were brought inside the perimeter formed by the gear and picketed for the night. The men were divided into "messes" of eight to ten individuals for cooking and to help with camp chores. At night, each member of a mess would take his turn for a period of guard duty (for first hand descriptions of guard duty). When not hunting, or otherwise distracted, a brigade would often travel about 25-30 miles in a day. Distance traveled was dependent on the nature of the country. If the horses had to pick their way through downed timber, brush, or steep rocky ground, the distance traveled could be as little as a few miles.

Horses were not a complete panacea for mountain transportation. Accidents involving horses are numerous, with resulting death or injury to the animal, it's rider, or packs common. Accidents were in fact so common that Harrison Rogers in one notable entry in his journal on July 2, 1829 "no accident has happened in regard to horses today."

Horses became so indispensable to the Mountain Man's way of life and business, that premium prices would be paid for these animals in the mountains. Fur trappers might pay a hundred dollars or more (or its equivalent in trade goods.) in the mountains for a horse, and as much as two hundred dollars depending on desperation. In the settlements in 1830's horses could generally be purchased for $30-$40 a head. At this time the ranches in Mexico had huge herds of horses, with correspondingly low prices. In Santa Fe horses could be bought for $6-$10, and in Spanish or Mexican California at similar prices. Unbroke horses could be purchased for as little as $1-$2 in California. In spite of the low cost of Mexican horses, many Indians and more than a few Mountain Men would travel to Mexico or California for the sole purpose of stealing horses. However, in attempting to elude the unhappy legitimate owners, often well over half of the stolen herds would be lost or die. The Mexicans were scrupulous about branding their horses and mules. On sale of an animal, the horse or mule was "unbranded" and then immediately rebranded. A horse or mule could only hope that it wasn't sold often.

Follow this link for an article about Saddles.

Follow this link for an article about Horseshoes.

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