A quirt, or short riding whip, was used to urge a horse to greater speed. But Native warriors also used them to “count coup.” A warrior would gallop up to an enemy in battle and, instead of killing him, would touch him with his quirt or with a special coup stick. Counting coup was a highly honored form of bravery. Different material were used for handles such as wood, horn, antler. Wrists have been often decorated with venetian glass beads, ermine fur, rawhides and bras stacks.
