A band that had lost most of its horses to the army could, in theory, try to recover some through raiding or trading — but raiding required mobility, which required horses, and trading required goods or other horses to offer.

In the medium term, the horse destruction eliminated the most important military asset the off-reservation peoples possessed.

A force of warriors without adequate horses was, in the tactics of the Southern Plains, drastically limited.

The mobility that allowed small numbers of warriors to strike effectively and disengage before heavier forces could concentrate — the core of Comanche and Kiowa military practice — depended on excellent horses and an adequate supply of them.

In the longer term, rebuilding a horse herd required time, space, and freedom from the kind of relentless pressure the Army was now applying.