81R8515 JH-D
 
  By: Phillips, Swinford, Smithee, Chisum, H.C.R. No. 53
      Homer
 
 
 
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
         WHEREAS, The history and culture of Texas have been greatly
  influenced by the celebrated era of cowboys and cattle drives and by
  the ranching industry, which continues to be an important component
  of the Texas economy to this day; the significance of these elements
  to the state's identity is reflected in a number of the official
  symbols that have been recognized by the Texas Legislature,
  including the designation of the longhorn as the state large mammal
  and rodeo as the state sport; and
         WHEREAS, Perhaps the most iconic symbol of western lore is
  the horse, and one breed in particular, the American quarter horse,
  has played a central role in the story of the Lone Star State; and
         WHEREAS, This versatile animal likely arrived in Texas soon
  after the region was opened to colonization in the 1820s, helping to
  transform the unsettled wilderness into a productive land of farms
  and small towns; quarter horses also proved invaluable to such
  legendary figures as Sam Houston, whose mount Copper Bottom was a
  member of the breed; and
         WHEREAS, The American quarter horse first caught the
  attention of many during the cattle drives of the late 1800s;
  strong, smart, fast, and tough, the animal was perfectly suited to
  the task of carrying cowboys on the long journeys from Texas to the
  railheads of Missouri and Kansas; the drovers called these prized
  ponies "steeldusts," a name derived from the well-known American
  quarter horse racer Steel Dust, who had won a host of victories in
  Texas in the mid-1800s and who sired numerous offspring; and
         WHEREAS, While widely admired for its achievements on the
  western frontier, the American quarter horse traces its heritage to
  an earlier era of U.S. history; in the colonies of Virginia and
  North Carolina and South Carolina, the Galloway and hobby breeds
  from England were mated with Spanish Barb horses raised by the
  Chickasaw people; the result was the "Celebrated Quarter of a Mile
  Running Horse," which excelled at short-distance races; later,
  Thoroughbred stallions and the hardy mustangs of the American West
  also contributed to the bloodline to produce the horse so beloved by
  the Texas cowhands; and
         WHEREAS, Today, the Lone Star State is home to nearly 500,000
  American quarter horses that are owned by more than 130,000 Texans,
  and the breed has a sizable commercial impact on the state through
  its prominent role in horse shows, racing, ranching, recreational
  riding, and other endeavors; and
         WHEREAS, This noble animal endears itself to Texans in
  numerous ways; rodeo athletes rely on its agility and intelligence
  when competing in roping and barrel-racing events, and riders of
  all abilities know it as a gentle and amiable animal that is a
  faithful companion on the trail; of course, the quarter horse
  remains a fixture on the working ranches of Texas, where its
  hoofbeats still resound across the wide open spaces that were
  trodden by its ancestors in decades past; and
         WHEREAS, A uniquely American breed that reflects the
  historical development of our state and nation, the American
  quarter horse is a vital part of our Texas heritage, and it is
  indeed a most appropriate symbol for the Lone Star State; now,
  therefore, be it
         RESOLVED, That the 81st Legislature of the State of Texas
  hereby designate the American quarter horse as the official State
  Horse of Texas.