What did Indians get around on before we brought over horses?
Shanks Mare
The Comanches were an easy target for other, more martially proficient tribes until they acquired horses, after which they became feared by Indian and white man alike.
Shank’s mare.
They walked, and used dog powered travois to pull cargo.
Their feet. Or canoes and such.
Their feet!
They walked.
Lots of details about pre-horse indian culture in the book, 'Autobiography of Red Cloud: War Leader of the Oglalas.'
Horses and European firearms resulted it a more war-like culture between tribes. Old allies became rivals and even enemies.
Stealing horses from neighboring tribes was considered honorable and a rite of passage for young warriors.
What did Indians get around on before we brought over horses?
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In the non snow seasons, they had special shoes made of woven branches that fit onto the backs of small dogs. Then the dogs would run them around.
Snow times, they used skis and had the dogs, or in some areas, beavers, tow them around.
You just read that here on the internet so you know it must be true. :)
There was a TV show on some guy that lived on the Olympic Peninsula in WA state. Lived in the woods, walked everywhere (almost always barefoot). A real hermit.
His nephew or somebody was getting married in California. The camera man asked him how he was getting down there.
“What do you mean? I'll walk of course. That's what I do everyday here - I'll just point south instead.”
The wedding was months off. More research on the guy and it sounds like he does just walk everywhere and lives that lifestyle. But - he did buy one or two properties around the western USA and has/will develop them into off-grid learning centers or something.
HA! Found his website - he does exercise camps using stuff from nature.
https://mickdodge.com/the-old-strength-farm-and-the-game-of-olding/