Dr. Tim McCleary shares Crow horse history at local event

Community members gathered in Lovell Saturday morning for a special event – A Morning with Mustangs -- featuring live music, games, wild horses and a fascinating presentation by longtime Little Bighorn College professor Dr. Tim McCleary, who spoke on the importance of horses in Crow history.

The event, held from 9 to 11:30 a.m. at the Pryor Mountain Wild Mustang Center, also featured free refreshments and performances by local musicians Amanda Bennion and Emilie Asay.

While the festive atmosphere provided entertainment for families, the highlight was Dr. McCleary’s insightful talk, which detailed the long-standing relationship between the Crow people and horses, a bond that has influenced their culture for centuries.

Dr. McCleary, an anthropologist who has worked with the Crow community for more than 40 years, began his presentation by explaining how horses were originally introduced to the Americas by Spanish colonists after being extinct in North America for around 12,000 years. He described how horses spread northward from the Southwest, revolutionizing life for many Native tribes, including the Crow, by the early 1700s.

“For the Crow, horses meant more than just transportation. They changed how the people hunted, fought and even lived,” McCleary said. “The horse allowed the Crow to be more mobile, hunt more efficiently and even build larger tipis.” 

He emphasized that horses became a vital part of warfare, with Crow warriors gaining high honors for capturing horses from enemy camps.

In one of the more surprising parts of the presentation, McCleary discussed how the Crow people historically avoided certain breeds of horses, such as the Appaloosa.

“The Appaloosa was favored by European royalty for its distinct coat, and one of the Spanish viceroys in Texas brought them over to the Americas,” McCleary said. “But the Crow people never embraced Appaloosas, largely because of their tendency to develop ‘moon blindness,’ which often led to vision loss by age six or seven.” 

McCleary explained that, instead, the Crow favored paints and roans. Paint horses, especially those with black ears, commonly called “medicine hat” horses, were prized for their spiritual significance. Roan horses, particularly red roans and blue roans, also held a special place in Crow culture.

“Blue roans became especially important because of a sacred horse dance in which a blue roan was said to have given the dance to a Crow man in a vision,” McCleary said. “The belief was that the blue roan carried every other horse color in its coat, making it a kind of wish for any horse.”

As the presentation continued, McCleary shared the deep spiritual connection the Crow people have with their horses. According to Crow beliefs, horses, along with humans and dogs, are the only creatures with souls. This belief is why the Crow would never intentionally kill a horse and why horse-related items were kept outside the home.

“Horses have their own will and spirit,” McCleary said. “If you brag about the number of horses you own, it’s said that they will leave, because you’re claiming ownership over them in a way that disrespects their independence.”

McCleary also described the traditional Crow practice of gifting horses as a sign of respect and care. In particular, when a man gives a horse to his father-in-law, it is a gesture that symbolizes his commitment to taking care of the man’s daughter.

Dr. McCleary concluded his talk by discussing the contemporary role of horses in Crow culture. Although the U.S. government’s forced reduction of Crow horse herds in the early 20th century devastated their population, horses remain integral to Crow life today. Events such as rodeos, parades and the increasingly popular Indian relay racing events all showcase the ongoing importance of horses.

“Horses continue to be an important part of Crow life,” McCleary said. “Even today, Crow families are deeply connected to their horses, especially blue roans, which are considered sacred.” 

The presentation gave attendees a comprehensive look into the Crow people’s rich history with horses, highlighting not only the practical but also the spiritual roles these animals have played throughout the centuries.