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STATE OF OKLAHOMA
2nd Session of the 58th Legislature (2022)
SENATE BILL 1636 By: Stephens
AS INTRODUCED
An Act relating to state emblems; providing history
of the American Quarter Horse an d Colonial Spanish
Horse of Oklahoma; designating the American Quarter
Horse the state horse; providing for noncodification ;
providing for codification; and providing an
effective date.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new secti on of law not to be
codified in the Oklahoma Statutes reads as follows:
The American Quarter Horse ’s name is derived from its ability to
outrun other horse breeds in races of one -quarter (1/4) mile or
less; some have been clocked at speeds of up to fifty -five (55)
miles per hour. In addition, the American Quarter Horse is known as
a quick and smart cow horse and is the most popular breed of horse
in the United States today. For nearly fifty (50) years, the
American Quarter Horse Association has held its w orld championship
show in Oklahoma City.
The Colonial Spanish Horse of Oklahoma has deep , rich ties to
the American Quarter Horse. The Colonial Spanish Horse was br ought
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to America in the 1500s by the Span ish conquistadors. These were
pure Spanish Mustangs, a relatively small but tough breed of horse.
After the introduction of these horses to Native American tribes,
the horses became essential to the tribes, and th ey began to rely
heavily on them for thei r travels during tim es of war and hardship,
as well as for hunting. In addition, the Native American tribes
utilized the Colonial Spanish Horse to traverse the Trail of Tears.
The Colonial Spanish Horse of Oklahom a is the only native horse and
has the purest bloodline in th e state. There is evidence th at the
Spanish Mustangs obtained from the Native American tribes were
crossed with the English colonists ’ stock as early as the year 1611.
The product of this breed ing would come to be known as the America n
Quarter Horse.
Currently, Oklahoma is fifth in the nation in total horse
members, behind only Texas, California, Florida, and Ohio. Horses
in Oklahoma are used for diverse purposes with forty -four percent
(44%) privately owned, seventeen percent (17%) used for showing, and
seventeen percent (17% ) used for racing. The predominant horse
breed in Oklahoma is the American Quarter Horse. The American Horse
Council estimates about one hundred four thousand (104,000) American
Quarter Horses were in Oklahoma in 2017. Oklahoma was listed second
in the United States in total number of American Quarter Horse s.
For the reasons listed above, th e American Quarter Horse deserves to
be designated as the state horse of Oklahoma.
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SECTION 2. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 98.21 of Title 25, unless there
is created a duplication i n numbering, reads as follows:
The American Quarter Hor se is hereby designated and adopted as
the state horse of the State of Oklahoma.
SECTION 3. This act shall become effective November 1, 2022.
58-2-2657 KR 1/20/2022 3:28:55 PM