The introduction of horses enabled the Indians to travel and exploit the Plains more efficiently. Frequent encounters with hostile strangers, however, led to increased warfare. This watercolour touched with gouache by the American artist Alfred Jacob Miller (1810-1871) captures the excitement of such struggles. Miller described the Indian's considerable equestrian skill:
In skirmishing with his enemy on horseback, he makes a target of his horse; watching the arrow of his adversary with the eye of a hawk, when the occasion requires it, he, quick as lightning, clings to the horse's neck, dropping his body on the furthest side from his adversary. In this position he exposes but a part of his arm and leg, and sometimes he holds on simply by the heel, while the horse is in full motion. In such an attitude he will discharge arrows under his horse's neck, recovering his seat in a moment if he wishes it. Of course this feat can only be attained by long practice, and a broken neck is sometimes the result of the first attempt.
