We have a state flower (the beautiful bluebonnet), a state food (chili con carne), and we even have a small and large state mammal (the armadillo and longhorn, respectively.) So, doesn’t it make sense that we’d have a state horse as well? Well, indeed it does, and indeed we do – the American Quarter Horse, to be exact.
According to reports, there are just over one dozen American states that do have a state horse or a breed that represents them, and the first state to ever name one was Vermont, back in 1961. Surprisingly, Texas didn’t name theirs until 2009. Among those that have named an equine representative, the Appaloosa belongs to Idaho, the Thoroughbred belongs to both Maryland and Kentucky, and the Florida Cracker Horse belongs to…well, duh.
Photo: Pxhere
With the American Quarter Horse Association headquartered in Amarillo, there is plenty to be both learned and celebrated about this breed right here in the state of Texas. Its past was “…closely intertwined with that of Texas, where the breed was used for ranching and racing.” A number of breeders and ranchers continue the tradition of working to maintain their lineage, easy temperaments, and quality features, making it the most popular breed in America. With its ability to shine at short-distance sprints, its name is derived from its capabilities in outdistancing other breeds in quarter-mile races (or less), some of which have been clocked at 55 mph. There are close to 3 million of these horses registered (as of 2014). Is it any wonder this champion of champions was chosen as the Texas representative?
