The Horse Spirit of Eagle Heights

"In the early [nineteen-]thirties this hill was known to the local Winnebago as Shohetaka, meaning "horse hill." This eminence was a sacred place, or shrine, to which the local Indians went to fast and dream and to receive the "blessings" (magic power) of a spirit horse which on misty days was to be seen in the hazy clouds rising above the hill. This horse did not always remain in a stationary position, but was sometimes seen to move and was heard to whinny." [1]

"Eagle Heights was the place of abode in Indian days of a 'spirit horse' whose form could be seen to rise above this high hill on misty days. To this vicinity the Indians went to fast and pray and to obtain the 'blessings' of this spirit." [3]

"The Winnebago name for Eagle Heights was Sho-Heta-Ka (Horse Hill). The hill was believed to be inhabited by a spirit horse. It was a sacred place and the Indians visited it to gain power and inspiration." [2]

Commentary. "Shohetaka, etc." -- this is for Cûkxedega, "the Horse."

Links: Horses.

Stories: mentioning horses: The Big Eater, Thunderbird and White Horse, The Orphan who was Blessed with a Horse, Sun and the Big Eater, Rich Man, Boy, and Horse, Hare Recruits Game Animals for Humans, Trickster Takes Little Fox for a Ride, The Boy who was Blessed by a Mountain Lion, The Boy who Flew.

Themes: a person who fasts receives blessings from the spirits: The Blessings of the Buffalo Spirits, The Boy who was Blessed by a Mountain Lion, The Nightspirits Bless Djobenagiwíñxga, Ghost Dance Origin Myth I, Redhorn's Sons, The Boy Who Became a Robin, The Woman Who Fought the Bear, The Seer, Maize Comes to the Hotcâgara, The Warbundle of the Eight Generations, The Woman who Loved Her Half-Brother, The Boy who would be Immortal, The Thunderbird, Lake Wâkcikhomîgra (Mendota): the Origin of Its Name, Great Walker's Medicine, Cûgepaga, Earthmaker Blesses Wagícega (Wecgícega), A Man's Revenge, Aratcgéga's Blessings, The Blessing of a Bear Clansman, The Man who was Blessed by the Sun, The Girl who Refused a Blessing from the Wood Spirits, Buffalo Dance Origin Myth, The Man who Defied Disease Giver, White Thunder's Warpath, A Man and His Three Dogs, The Diving Contest, The Plant Blessing of Earth, Holy Song, The Tap the Head Medicine, The Blessing of Cokeboka, The Completion Song Origin, Paint Medicine Origin Myth, The Nightspirits Bless Tciwoit'éhiga.

Notes:

[1] Dorothy Moulding Brown, Indian Legends of Historic and Scenic Wisconsin, Wisconsin Folklore Booklets (Madison: 1947) 60.

[2] Charles E. Brown, Lake Mendota Historical Excursion. Second Issue (Madison: Wisconsin State Historical Museum, 1926) 11.

[3] Charles E. Brown, Lake Mendota, Prehistory, History and Legends (Madison: Wisconsin Archeological Society, 1933) 6.