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Discover the Wild World of Crazy Horse: Top 8 Unbelievable Fun Facts You Never Knew

illustration of crazy-horse
Get ready to embark on a wild ride as we gallop through the untamed plains of history, unearthing intriguing and little-known fun facts about Crazy Horse!

1. Curly-Haired Origins

Before embarking on a wild hair day: Crazy Horse, originally born as Čháŋ Óhaŋ (Among the Trees), sported light, curly locks that earned him the nickname Pȟehíŋ Yuȟáȟa (Curly Son/Curly) or Žiží (Light Hair) from his mother. He later adopted the name Tȟašúŋke Witkó (His-Horse-Is-Crazy) after his impressive feat in the Fetterman Fight.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

2. Giant Mountain Tribute

In a world filled with modest monuments and tiny tributes, one mountain is about to go absolutely nuts for its namesake hero: The Crazy Horse Memorial in South Dakota, when completed, will stand as the largest mountain carving on the planet, immortalizing the legendary Lakota leader. This colossal stone spectacle, underway since 1948, was sculpted by Korczak Ziolkowski and boasts an on-site Indian Museum of North America and Native American Educational & Cultural Center, offering first-class cultural and educational programs on tap.
Source => travelsouthdakota.com

3. Knees-Only Horse Riding

Before there were horsepower-centric Fast and Furious drag races, there was one stallion-straddling, gravity-defying speed demon in the Wild West: Crazy Horse. Known for leaving saddles dusty and reins rusty, he charged into battle with only his knees for control: An uncanny strategy that gave him unparalleled flexibility and maneuverability during combat, proving you don't need a fancy car to be one with your ride.
Source => petticoatsandpistols.com

4. Stealthy Art Enthusiast

When Crazy Horse wasn't horsing around strategizing tactics on the battlefield, he was a silent and stealthy arts and crafts enthusiast: Historians suspect a recently uncovered tomahawk engraved with scenes of victorious raids and a gruesomely dismembered cavalry officer, Collins, belonged to the famous Lakota chief who led Native American forces during the Battle of Platte Bridge in retaliation for the Sand Creek Massacre.
Source => atlasobscura.com

Single Feather Fashionista

5. Single Feather Fashionista

When it comes to fashion advice, Crazy Horse was no featherweight; he kept it simple and just couldn't ear it in stone: Crazy Horse, a nontraditional member of his tribe, only wore a single feather instead of a war bonnet and placed a stone behind his ear, as per the instructions he received during a visionary experience. He was also committed to never taking anything for himself, a vow he maintained faithfully until his death.
Source => history.com

6. Brotherly Love and Legacy

Move over, Crazy Horse, there's a new stallion in town: Little Hawk, Crazy Horse's half-brother, was believed to have the potential for even greater fame and glory. Sadly, the rising star met his end as swiftly as one of his beloved fast horses, dying on a war expedition. In an ultimate brotherly love gesture, Crazy Horse delivered his fallen sibling's spirit to the other side via horse-killing ritual, cementing Little Hawk as a legendary figure in Lakota lore.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

7. Rock Star of Battle

When Crazy Horse rode into battle, one could almost hear Queen's "We Will Rock You" blasting from the Great Plains: As a fearless warrior, he played a pivotal role in the Battle of Little Bighorn, successfully halting reinforcements from reaching their coveted destination.
Source => crazyhorsememorial.org

8. Mythical Foe of General Crook

Crouching George, Hidden Horse: Although Crazy Horse is renowned for evading countless enemies with his legendary battlefield tactics, there's no concrete proof that General George Crook ever claimed he'd prefer facing 5,000 warriors over this one elusive Sioux leader — that's most likely the stuff of myths and tall tales.
Source => legendsofamerica.com

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