#308

"Spirit Horse""

(this copy is on inside top)

Long ago, a man or woman painted their horse with colors and designs that would help them physically or spiritually. A person could paint their horse many different colors. Blue represents power. A spirit horse could protect its rider from bad spirits in travel and from enemy warriors in battles. Many warriors had mediciine songs for their special horse.

My horse be swift in flight
Even like a bird;
My horse be swift in flight
Bear me now in safety
far from my enemy's arrows
And you shall be rewarded
With streamers and ribbons red.

-Sioux warrior's song to his horse