Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Why does Arizona need a state horse?

Arizona can embrace a part of its heritage by recognizing the Colonial Spanish Horse which was important in the settling of not only Arizona but much of America. Horses spread from the farms and ranches of Arizona blossoming into horse cultures in California, New Mexico and much of the mid-west. The Arizona Centennial will be celebrated in 2012 and designating a State Horse could be part of a festive event recognizing our heritage.  

What does this cost the state and the tax payers?

There is no cost to the state or tax payers in having the Colonial Spanish Horse named as the state horse.

What is the difference between the Colonial Spanish Horse and the Spanish Barb?

The two descriptions essentially describe the same horse; one says clearly where the horses developed from the early Spanish Explorers.The term Spanish Barb relates to where the horses originated; they were from the Iberian Horse of Spain and the Barb Horse of the Barbary Coast in North Africa, the horses were then brought to the New World where they were bred for exploration

What do these horses look like?

The Colonial Spanish Horse has several distinctive characteristics. They have wide set eyes and a refined muzzle, a narrow chest forming an A as opposed to many horses which would be described as having H shaped chests, Barbs are noted for their short backs enabling them to perform well athletically and they have a deep heart girth which makes them exemplary endurance horses, i.e. Padre Kino is purported to have ridden as much as 70 miles a day on these horses.

Are these the same horses that are used on Mexican ranches?

The horses of Mexico came from the same stock as our Colonial Spanish Horses. Today the remnants of these horses live though out the rural areas of Mexico. They are used on ranches and for every imaginable use. The Mexican’s have developed a modern horse they call the Azteca which is a Colonial Spanish Horse mixed with our Quarter Horse. Like the Quarter Horse of America the Azteca is larger than the Barb however it does have the Spanish look.

Where can I see these horses?

You can see these horses on many web sites such as the Florida Crackers Horse and Nokota horse on the State Horse section of this site. Also many registries have Colonial Spanish Horses such as the Spanish Barb Breeders Association, Spanish Mustang Registry, Horses of the Americas and Southwest Spanish Mustang Association to name a few

What other American States have designated state horses?

As of December 2010 there are 14 states that have designated state horses. The most recent is Texas and they designated the American Quarter Horse as their state horse on August 20, 2009. A list of the states with designated horses can be found on the State Horses page on this web site.