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THUNDER HORSE DANCE STICK
Before the Plains Indians actually saw a horse, the largest similar animal seen was a large dog, which they considered to be a holy dog. When they first saw a horse they gave it the name of SACRED DOG believing that it came from the dog family. When they heard the noise that horses made when they galloped, they associated this noise with the thunder that came out of the skies. Typically on the Plains, thunderstorms came out of the west. They interpreted the horses as also coming from the west and being part of the Thunder Being that came out of the sky.
The dominant color on the horse is gray, which is created by mixing the four directional colors together. These colors are black which represents danger, red which represents life, yellow which represents knowledge and wisdom, and white which represents the life hereafter, the Happy Hunting Ground. This horse dance stick carries arrows, which represent lightening. It is carved redwood with a brass bridle, leather reins and ears, real horsehair mane, leather grip and ironwood arrows made with turkey feathers, genuine sinew and metal points shaped from barrel hoops. Approximately 31” by 9”.
Made by Native and Non-Native American Artists
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