[3][4] McHorse lived off-reservation in her childhood but spent summers in Fluted Rock, Arizona, herding sheep and learning about Navajo oral history from her grandmother, Zonith Bahe.

[4] She met her future husband Joel P. McHorse at IAIA and was influenced by his grandmother, Lena Archuleta of Taos Pueblo, to begin working with ceramics.

[5] Much of her work has a signature black surface, created by depriving the clay of oxygen during firing and making her creations popular in contemporary art venues.

[5][13] She preferred to do the firing in the traditional mode but used the electric kiln for pre-firing larger pieces, some up to two feet, to prevent the chance of breakage.

[3][14] McHorse exhibited at Santa Fe Indian Market for 23 years, winning 38 awards for both pottery and sculpture.