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How did horses change housing and hunting for some Great Basin peoples?

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Indigenous peoples of the Great Basin Kaylei Weed (left) of the Eastern Shoshone Tribe with her two sons and mother, Elaine Ethel Weed, at the Wind River Indian Reservation in 2015.

The introduction of the horse significantly transformed the lifestyle of several Great Basin groups, particularly those in the northern and eastern regions, such as the Southern Ute and Eastern Shoshone.12

Changes in Hunting

The adoption of horses allowed these groups to expand their range and shift their focus toward the bison as a primary prey animal. While pedestrian groups were limited in their travel, equestrian bands could range over much larger areas, enabling them to follow the seasonal movements of bison on the northern Plains. This shift oriented these peoples toward the practices of the Indigenous peoples of the Great Plains, leading to increased participation in intertribal trade and warfare.1

Changes in Housing

The transition to an equestrian lifestyle also influenced housing patterns. Groups that adopted the horse began using tepees, which were well-suited for a more mobile, nomadic existence. These groups often painted their tepees, reflecting a cultural shift toward the aesthetic and social practices common among their Plains trade partners. In contrast, pedestrian groups in the Great Basin continued to rely on more stationary or seasonally adapted structures, such as grass-covered domed wickiups or brush windbreaks.12