The arrival of the horse greatly benefited the Native Americans of the Great Plains and quickly changed their way of life. One tribe that made the horse an especially important part of its culture was the Apsaalooka. The name means “people of the black-beaked bird,” and the Apsaalooka are also known as the Crow. Today the Apsaalooka still live on the northern Plains, in south-central Montana, and the horse remains central to their traditions.

The Apsaalooka were nomads, traveling from one campsite to another as they followed the buffalo, their main source of food. Hunting buffalo on foot was slow and difficult work. On horseback, tracking and hunting the buffalo that sustained their lives was easier. With horses, the Apsaalooka traveled farther and faster, expanding their territory and defending it. Before they had horses, they used dogs to help move their possessions from place to place. Using horses to carry things, the Apsaalooka were able to acquire more belongings. And they developed and refined the arts for which they are celebrated: horsemanship and beadwork.

The Apsaalooka valued horses not only for the work they could do, but also as members of the tribe, companions, and friends. To honor their horses, the Apsaalooka crafted beautiful horse tack and ornamental horse trappings.

Horse tack is the gear used for horseback riding. It includes the saddle and bridle and various straps. A strap called a crupper, attached to the saddle, loops under the horse’s tail to keep the saddle from slipping forward. Another strap, the martingale, prevents the horse from throwing its head back. The Apsaalooka often adorned these items with beadwork.

Horse trappings are decorative coverings of various kinds. Carefully designed and skillfully made trappings were created for special horses. The forehead ornament was a tribute to the horse’s courage. Shaped to resemble a human figure, it represents the success and bravery of the horse in time of war. Apsaalooka horse trappings are heavily ornamented with beadwork, bells, and other decoration.

Horses often carried objects used in hunting or traveling. Lance cases held a hunter’s spears. A cradleboard could be attached to the saddle to hold a baby during the tribe’s travels. A wedding blanket, given at the time of marriage, kept the rider warm and provided portection in bad weather. Traditionally, the Apsaalooka decorated many of these items with exquisite beadwork and natural materials like wood and animal hair.

The Apsaalooka decorate clothing and everyday objects and also their horses’ tack and trappings with beautiful beadwork. Traditional beadwork is done only by women, who have passed down their skill and knowledge through many generations.

The geometric patterns, color combinations, and beading techniques used by the Apsaalooka give their work a unique style that sets it apart from beadwork by other Plains tribes. The Apsaalooka are known for choosing shapes such as the triangle and using pink, light blue, and green beads. They are also famous for creating beaded white outlines that make their designs look three-dimensional.

Apsaalooka women use a technique called “spot-stitch.” Working on fabric or leather, they use two threaded needles. They string one thread with several beads and lay it in position on the cloth or hide. With the other, they stitch the beaded thread in place. Stitches are made at even intervals, every few beads. The result is a beaded surface so smooth you can’t tell where the beads are attached. This technique is also good for creating large areas of solid beadwork.