This was due to the spiritual connection they had with god-like beings. They named the animal "Big Dog" or "God Dog" and eventually rode and owned the animals. Before horses were found, they used dogs to carry small things and had less efficient hunting methods. For example, during the buffalo hunt, they drove the buffalo off a cliff so they could catch them. This method may have been less effective due to the buffalo's heavy weight and it would have been difficult to transport it to camp while injured or dead. By having horses the natives increased their food efficiency and transportation. Horses have expanded their resources and growth exponentially. (American Indian horse