Horse Dance Stick
Lakota (Sioux), South Dakota
Images of horses, human heads, or other figures carved into wood dance sticks were carried in Victory Dances by Northern Plains warriors, to remind them of their abilities in capturing horses from enemy tribes or of other battle exploits. Horse dance sticks also were made to honor favorite horses, which may have been killed or performed heroically in battle. This Lakota horse dance stick consists of a carved horse hoof for the handle and a horse head. In the middle are three triangular marks symbolizing the wounds suffered by the owner's horse in action.
ca. 1890, wood, paint.
Buffalo Bill Historical Center, Adolf Spohr Collection, Gift of Larry Sheerin, acc. NA.502.4
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