OklahomaHorses Magazine Sept 2022

20 OklahomaHorses • September / October 2022 Making It Official American Quarter Horse Is Named State Horse Breed by Lindsay Humphrey F ewer than 20 states have officially declared a state horse breed. Oklahoma joined those ranks on August 10, 2022, when Governor Kevin Stitt signed into law a bill making the American quarter horse the official breed of the state. To celebrate the occasion, Stitt and Senator Blake Stephens saddled up a pair of quarter horses and rode through Oklahoma City from the governor’s mansion to the state capitol. As an avid horseman, Stephens had authored the bill. Dubbed the Horse Show Capital of the World, Oklahoma City annually hosts some of the largest equine events in the nation, as does Tulsa. The Built Ford Tough Complex at Expo Square in Tulsa, Lazy E Arena, Oklahoma City Fairgrounds, and Remington Park are just some of the largest venues that bring horses in from all corners of the state and the United States. On any given day in Oklahoma, a horse event of any size is likely being held. About 252,00 horses reside in Oklahoma, and even more travel to and through it on an annual basis. A large majority of those are quarter horses. The rich history of the equine industry spurred Stephens to pay tribute to the species which annually contributes to more than half the gross domestic product in the state. Oklahoma has the second-largest horse popu- lation in the nation, bested only by its southern neighbor, Texas. According to Stephens, Okla- homa does, however, boast the most registered quarter horses per capita. State Animal Symbols Bird: scissor-tailed flycatcher Mammal: buffalo Big game animal: whitetail deer Bird, game bird: wild turkey Horse: American quarter horse Heritage horse: Oklahoma colonial Spanish horse Furbearer: raccoon Pet: rescue animals Raptor: red-tailed hawk Flying mammal: Mexican free-tailed bat Reptile: collared lizard Amphibian: bullfrog Fish: white bass Butterfly: black swallowtail Insect: honeybee Source: Oklahoma Historical Society