Description
The silver bridles which came to North America from Mexico with the earliest explorers, and later the military officers, were the first horses and bridles seen by Indians on the Southern Plains. Once they obtained horses, these Indians preferred the flashy accoutrements the Spanish had used. Southern Plains tribesmen used Mexican ring bits on their German silver bridles, but added to them hanging elements such as chains, scalps, ribbons or flags.
In this volume are 500 images of silver bridles from museums and private collections, as well as depictions in ledger drawings and historic photos of these bridles in use by the Plains people.