Medicine Hat Horses and a Give Away!

In my upcoming book, Ivy (Love Train Series, Book 7) my hero Darius Jones owns what he refers to as a “paint pony” and “sturdy stock”. The horse’s name is Sammy and he’s what’s known as a Medicine Hat Horse. Why? It all has to do with the horse’s coloring.

Medicine Hat horses are rare and back in the 19th and even into the 20th century, was believed to have special powers. In reality, a Medicine Hat Horse is a pinto with a particular color location. Many people confuse “Paint” and “Pinto” horses. The difference is, Paint horses are a recognized breed. Pinto refers to a coat color pattern that can appear on any breed.

So what’s the color pattern of a Medicine Hat horse? Well, like most pintos their color is patched. A Medicine Hat horse, however, has dark patches mainly on the head and ears (on some it looks like the horse is wearing a bonnet) while the body is mostly white. Sometimes there’s a sprinkle of color on the flanks or belly, but for the most part, it’s the head and ears.

Medicine Hat horses can be any of the usual pinto colors. Black, brown, grey, palomino, roan, or yellow. But the predominant color is white, which is what makes them so rare.

So what about the special powers? Many Native Americans believed that anyone riding a Medicine Hat horse couldn’t be hurt. If one or both eyes were blue, then that was an added bonus and the horse was believed to be even more powerful. These horses were often rode by Medicine Men who were figures of power in most indigenous tribes. 

There’s a lot in Native American History about the medicine man and the Medicine Hat horse. They believed that the medicine man would be protected by the Medicine Hat horse in battle and help him to heal others that were injured.  They also believed that Medicine man and horse could warn others of impending dangers. 

Tribes used to paint symbols on the Medicine Hat horse’s coat. These symbols represented different things. Tribes would use different colors of paint for different symbols. 

 

 

  • A circle around one or both eyes: Generally red in color, this symbol was used for alert vision.
  • A circle around the nostrils: Similar to the circle around the eye, it was believed that a red circle around the nostrils would bring a keener sense of smell.
  • Arrow: A blue, straight arrow was believed to bring victory.
  • Fire arrow: Red and usually painted in a zig-zag pattern would add strength to the warrior while causing trouble for the enemy.
  • Lightning (or thunder) stripes: Usually blue or purple in color, these stripes were believed to please the war gods.
  • Yellow arrowheads: A symbol painted on all four hooves, it would make the horse move swiftly.
  • Hailstones: Blue or purple, these hailstones were more of a prayer for the hail to fall on the enemy.
  • Red cross: A red cross on the horse meant the animal and its rider had escaped an ambush.
  • Horseshoe prints: The number of horseshoe symbols stands for the number of horses the warrior captured during raids.
  • Two green handprints: These symbols on a horse’s chest were used to outline that the horse had knocked down an enemy.
  • One purple upside-down handprint: The most prized symbol a warrior could place on his horse, it designated warriors embarking on do-or-die missions.
  • One blue handprint: Drawn on the horse’s hip, this symbol was reserved solely for horses that have brought their masters home, unharmed after a dangerous mission.

I’ve seen Medicine Hat horses at western horse shows but had no idea of all the history behind their color pattern. It wasn’t until I found a horse for Darius, my hero, that I discovered it. I’m glad I did!

Do you know much about horses? Have you ever owned one? (I’ve owned three) Or, like many, are you a horseless horse lover? I’m giving away a free e-copy of Ivy (Love Train Series, Book 7) to one lucky commenter.

A little more about the book: Ivy Pembrooke has a problem. With her brother gone, she’s now the heir to the Pembrooke fortune and estate. That is, if she lives long enough. After over hearing a plot to kill her, she does what any other heiress would do. She makes a run for it. But how is she going to elude her would be killers and claim what is rightfully hers? Especially when said killer is her uncle? She decides to run now, and figure things out later. In the meantime, she needs a way of escape …

Darius Jones made a promise. Quit the ranch he worked for in Texas, return to Oregon, and take his half-blind mother to Clear Creek. The doctor there was said to work miracles, and Mama needed all the help she could get. But his mother wasn’t the only one. A passenger in the form of a petite, blonde-haired spit fire was going to be the death of him. Literally. Was someone trying to do her harm or was trouble her middle name? Yet there was something about her, and doggone if he didn’t try to help. He just hoped doing so didn’t get them both killed.

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USA Today bestselling author Kit Morgan is the author of over 140 books of historical and contemporary western romance! Her stories are fun, sweet stories full of love, laughter, and just a little bit of mayhem! Kit creates her stories in her little log cabin in the woods in the Pacific Northwest. An avid reader and knitter, when not writing, she can be found with either a book or a pair of knitting needles in her hands! Oh, and the occasional smidge of chocolate!

45 thoughts on “Medicine Hat Horses and a Give Away!”

  1. I have had horses a couple of times and for several years during my lifetime. My last horse was a beautiful Paint but she wasn’t a medicine hat horse.

    • Cool, Debra. I never really competed when I had horses. I was more interested in trail riding. My sister, on the other hand, is a professional horse woman.

  2. What a wonderful blog. I am a horse lover, but I’m not sure the # my family have owned. My dad rodeoed and then my brother & I did too.

    Horses are such amazing animals. I however had not heard about Medicine Hat horses, so like I tell everyone, you’re never too old to learn something new. Congrats on the new book. I’ve read Pam’s, Shanna’s, Charlene’s, and now I’m reading an arc by Linda for this series. So far every one of them I’ve read, has been Amazing!

  3. I have seen several medicine hat horses in my lifetime – but I was always told they had to have 3 areas covered – the top of the head including both ears and a patch in the chest area and patches in both flanks to have full protection from all evil spirits! thanks!

  4. Good morning! What an awesome blog! I’ve never heard of medicine hat horses! I have seen photos of horses with the painted symbols before but i never knew what they meant! My family has owned several horses but I’m not sure of the count. I love horses though and miss riding them. My old big self and MS legs could never get up on one now. My fear of falling and fear of heights are worsen so much since my MS reared its ugly head that I’d have to ride on flat ground. Lol

  5. I love a painted horse! my Target, was a tri-color that had the personality of an angel. He was basically white, with big patches of brown, and black. With a black mane and tail, and a brown “bullseye” circling the base of his tail, he resembled my Calico cat. He passed away, at 33 years old. After that, I had a Morgan mare, that I bred with an appy, and got a black, blanket colt. I sure miss those days.

  6. Great information on horses. I do like horses but have never owned any or been around them much. Although I do come from the horse loving state. I still have never been to the KY Derby and seen the races.

  7. welcome today. thanks for sharing this most interesting post. growing up on a farm in CA, mom had four horses. Goldie was pregnant when bought. She was a very tall palomino. I got to use her in 4-H. my brother used a pinto in 4-H my brother and I both did barrel racing. Goldie was the sweetest horse. she adopted me. I was this little 85 lb girl. if I fell off she would come back to me and stand there. many times riding through the desert I would be taking her one way but Goldie would veer off sometimes. found out that, that was her way of getting me away from an unseen to me danger. quilting dash lady at comcast dot net

  8. I’ve never heard an explanation of the different symbols painted on war horses. Thanks for the info!

  9. I love horses unfountently I haven’t had to pleasure or privilege’s to own one or be around any for a long while. Love the info, I always wondered about the symbols and beautiful horses.

  10. I’d never heard of this! How interesting, and fascinating! I like horses, but I’ve never owned one.

  11. I’d never heard of Pinto horses before, they’re very pretty. I’ve never had a horse but I do admire their beauty.

    • There are so many different horse breeds out there Megan, I can’t keep track. I thought pintos were a breed but it’s a color coat. I always wondered what the difference between a paint horse and a pinto was!

  12. I enjoyed your post. I had never heard of a Medicine Hat Horse, very interesting. I’ve never owned a horse, but I do enjoy looking at them in pastures, some are very beautiful.

  13. I love horses… never owned one but remember getting horseback riding lessons at camp for two summers as a kid! My favorite was a horse named Jackpot!

  14. When I was in grade school we had horses, but we moved to a place that prohibited keeping a horse. When I was grown and away from home, Mom and Dad moved and Dad got a draft horse. He was beautiful.

    • Surprisingly they use draft horses in Prospect Park in Brooklyn, NY. It’s a volunteer program for patrolling the park. When one is riding a draft horse, people are less likely to be breaking park rules.

  15. A horseless horse appreciator here. As many teen girls do, I wanted one, but that never happened. It is just as well. They intimidate me. I have read a lot about horses over the years, but this is the first I have heard of Medicine Hat horses. It is an interesting type of marking and the blue eyes against the white coat are striking. Thanks so much for including the information on the meaning of the markings. As with the way they paint their faces, there is meaning that most of us do not know.
    IVY’s story is a trope that I enjoy. It sounds like another good entry to this series.

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