Discover how the introduction of the horse affected Ute life.
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Utes attained horses from the Spaniards in the middle of the 17th Century. Due to the Ute's proximity to Santa Fe and Taos, many historians feel they were one of the first, if not the first, groups of Indians to obtain the horse.
The horse transformed the Ute Nation. It became an integral part of Ute culture, a symbol of power and influence, the Ute's most important single possession. A brave was judged by his horsemanship, and his inheritance in terms of horses. A man obtained a wife or not depending on the number of horses he owned.
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Although the early Utes hunted deer, elk and buffalo, it was the lowly jackrabbit that provided most of their food, clothing, and blankets. The introduction of the horse allowed the Ute to hunt larger game more often that made their lives much easier.
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