Warpaint
Encyclopedia
Warpaint is a mascot
pinto horse
for the Kansas City Chiefs
National Football League
team, currently in its third incarnation. The gelding
is most famously associated with the Chiefs' glory days at Municipal Stadium
when the team won two American Football League
Championships, and the horse led the team's victory parade after their win in Super Bowl IV
. After the original Warpaint's retirement in 1989, the team used K.C. Wolf as their lone mascot between 1989-2009. In keeping with the celebration of the AFL's 50th anniversary, the Chiefs decided to bring back the tradition of Warpaint for the 2009 season, introducing the new horse at the team's home-opener against the Oakland Raiders
.
The horse was ridden bareback by rider Bob Johnson who wore full Native American
headdress. Warpaint circled the field at the beginning of each game and after each touchdown. In 1975
, the Chiefs defeated the Oakland Raiders
by a score of 42-10, prompting Warpaint to circle the field plenty of times.
—Oakland Raiders
head coach John Madden
, following their 42-10 loss to the Chiefs in 1975.
The horse was said to have lost his footing when the team switched from natural grass at Municipal Stadium
to artificial turf
at Arrowhead Stadium
. Charges were also made that the horse and rider were demeaning to Native Americans
, helping to end its use as the team's mascot.
The first Warpaint was born in 1955, and the second was born in 1968. The second Warpaint died in 2005 at the age of 37 at Benjamin Stables in Kansas City
where it is now buried. The horse made an appearance at a 1997
Chiefs game where he received a standing ovation
from a sold-out crowd.
On September 20, 2009 a new Warpaint horse was unveiled at the Chiefs' home opener against the Oakland Raiders
at Arrowhead Stadium
. The horse is ridden by a member of the team's cheerleading squad, in contrast to the original headdress-clad rider in its first incarnation.
Mascot
The term mascot – defined as a term for any person, animal, or object thought to bring luck – colloquially includes anything used to represent a group with a common public identity, such as a school, professional sports team, society, military unit, or brand name...
pinto horse
Pinto horse
A pinto horse has a coat color that consists of large patches of white and any other color. The distinction between "pinto" and "solid" can be tenuous, as so-called "solid" horses frequently have areas of white hair. Various cultures throughout history appear to have selectively bred for pinto...
for the Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
team, currently in its third incarnation. The gelding
Gelding
A gelding is a castrated horse or other equine such as a donkey or a mule. Castration, and the elimination of hormonally driven behavior associated with a stallion, allows a male horse to be calmer and better-behaved, making the animal quieter, gentler and potentially more suitable as an everyday...
is most famously associated with the Chiefs' glory days at Municipal Stadium
Municipal Stadium (Kansas City)
Kansas City Municipal Stadium was a baseball and football stadium that formerly stood in Kansas City, Missouri. It hosted the minor league Kansas City Blues of the American Association from 1923 to 1954 and the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro Leagues during the same period...
when the team won two American Football League
American Football League
The American Football League was a major American Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when the established National Football League merged with it. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...
Championships, and the horse led the team's victory parade after their win in Super Bowl IV
Super Bowl IV
Super Bowl IV was the fourth AFL-NFL World Championship Game in professional American football, and the second one to officially bear the name "Super Bowl"...
. After the original Warpaint's retirement in 1989, the team used K.C. Wolf as their lone mascot between 1989-2009. In keeping with the celebration of the AFL's 50th anniversary, the Chiefs decided to bring back the tradition of Warpaint for the 2009 season, introducing the new horse at the team's home-opener against the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
The horse was ridden bareback by rider Bob Johnson who wore full Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
headdress. Warpaint circled the field at the beginning of each game and after each touchdown. In 1975
1975 Kansas City Chiefs season
The 1975 Kansas City Chiefs season ended with a second consecutive 5–9 record and no playoff berth. San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Paul Wiggin was named the second head coach in franchise history on January 23...
, the Chiefs defeated the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
by a score of 42-10, prompting Warpaint to circle the field plenty of times.
—Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
head coach John Madden
John Madden (American football)
John Earl Madden is a former American professional football player in the National Football League, a former Super Bowl-winning head coach with the Oakland Raiders in the American Football League and later the NFL, and a former color commentator for NFL telecasts. In 2006, he was inducted into...
, following their 42-10 loss to the Chiefs in 1975.
The horse was said to have lost his footing when the team switched from natural grass at Municipal Stadium
Municipal Stadium (Kansas City)
Kansas City Municipal Stadium was a baseball and football stadium that formerly stood in Kansas City, Missouri. It hosted the minor league Kansas City Blues of the American Association from 1923 to 1954 and the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro Leagues during the same period...
to artificial turf
Artificial turf
Artificial turf is a surface manufactured from synthetic fibers made to look like natural grass. It is most often used in arenas for sports that were originally or are normally played on grass. However, it is now being used on residential lawns and commercial applications as well...
at Arrowhead Stadium
Arrowhead Stadium
Arrowhead Stadium is a stadium located in Kansas City, Missouri and home to the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs....
. Charges were also made that the horse and rider were demeaning to Native Americans
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
, helping to end its use as the team's mascot.
The first Warpaint was born in 1955, and the second was born in 1968. The second Warpaint died in 2005 at the age of 37 at Benjamin Stables in Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
where it is now buried. The horse made an appearance at a 1997
1997 NFL season
The 1997 NFL season was the 78th regular season of the National Football League. The Oilers relocated from Houston, Texas to Nashville, Tennessee...
Chiefs game where he received a standing ovation
Standing ovation
A standing ovation is a form of applause where members of a seated audience stand up while applauding after extraordinary performances of particularly high acclaim...
from a sold-out crowd.
On September 20, 2009 a new Warpaint horse was unveiled at the Chiefs' home opener against the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
at Arrowhead Stadium
Arrowhead Stadium
Arrowhead Stadium is a stadium located in Kansas City, Missouri and home to the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs....
. The horse is ridden by a member of the team's cheerleading squad, in contrast to the original headdress-clad rider in its first incarnation.