News

2011

August 27, 2011, 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. The Amerind Museum will host the Spanish Barb Horse Association's event, Discover The Horse That Discovered America. Join us in a celebration, and meet the horse that Governor Jan Brewer declared as Arizona’s State Heritage Horse. The event will include presentations on the Colonial Spanish horse as well as demonstrations. Apache historian, Dale Curtis Miles, will discuss the role the Barb had in Native American cultures. A book signing by Silke Schneider, the author of Arizona's Spanish Barb, a presentation by a representative from the Father Kino Society, and a slide show of the horses and their history, along with activities for children. A Native American food vendor will be on site, and local artisans have been invited to show and sell their work.

To download a vendor form go here.

June 24 - We will have our petition for the Arizona State Heritage Horse Bill at the El Dia De San Juan Festival in Tucson.

May 2011 - The Arizona Heritage Horse Project is partnering with the Arizona Horse Council, TRRFCC Horsemanship and the Arizona Farm Bureau to develop an Equine Kit that will be distributed to the Arizona Schools.  This kit will have information on the Colonial Spanish Horses and is designed for grades 2 - 5.  We hope to reach up to 40,000 Arizona students with general information on horses and the Arizona State Heritage Horse.

April 30, 2011 - The Arizona Colonial Spanish Horse Project Members attended the Queen Creek Horse Expo to gather more signatures for support of a bill for the Arizona State Heritage Horse.

April 22, 2011 - The Arizona Quarter Horse Association sends a letter of support for the Arizona Heritage Horse.  "We are glad that you have made this legislation go as far as to become a bill and to have it come so close to having it pass.  The Arizona Quarter Horse gives you our support, and since the American Quarter Horse and many other breeds are descendants of the Colonial Spanish Horse we see it fitting that it be named the Arizona State Horse."

March 10, 2011 - The Arizona Horse Council agrees to send a letter of support for the Arizona State Heritage Horse.

March 3, 2011 - Press Release - Governor Janice K. Brewer signs a Proclamation stating that the Colonial Spanish Horse is the State of Arizona's Heritage Horse. 

February 26, 2011 - Beth and Alfredo Mandivil and Jerry Dixon participated with their horses in a Manda Event in Tucson, AZ. 

A “Manda” is a pilgrimage in the tradition of this particular “manda” is a “Manda de Caballos” which just means a pilgrimage on horseback.  The pilgrimage commemorates the arrival of Father Kino in Tucson where he went to meet the native people who lived at the base of A Mountain. 

Father Kino established San Xavier del Bac to settle the area inhabited by the native people.  He called this area the Pimeria Alta in recognition of the native people who spoke the Piman language. We know these people as the O’odham today.

February 24, 2011 - Marjorie Dixon's horse Azul was ridden in the Tucson Rodeo Parade by Charles DeConcini who portrayed Padre Kino in the rodeo parade won first prize for the moth authentic entry and overall first place!  See photo below from the parade by Linda Mckittrick.

February 22, 2011 - Return to Freedom, American Wild Horse Sanctuary, send a letter of support for the Arizona State Heritage Horse.

February 7, 2011 - Equine Enthusiast publishes an article on the Arizona State Heritage Horse.

February 4.  2011 - A proclamation was sent to Arizona Governor Jan Brewer asking to name the Colonial Spanish Horse as the Arizona State Heritage Horse.  

January 15 - 16, 2011 -  Arizona Colonial Spanish Horse Project has a booth at the 2nd Annual Southern Arizona Horse Expo.  The petition to have the Colonial Spanish Horse named as the Arizona Heritage Horse receives over 200 signatures!

2010

December 18, 2010 - Petition to have the Colonial Spanish Horse named as the Arizona State Heritage Horse ready for signature at the Tucson Marcado's Third Annual Holiday Bazaar.

June 11, 2010 - The official State Horse of South Carolina is the Marsh Tacky.

June 3, 2010 - North Carolina makes the Spanish Mustang the State Horse of North Carolina.

March 31, 2010 - See Kristena Hansen's video of the slideshow of her interview with Marjorie Dixon at the Dragoon Mountain Ranch in February 2010. 

March 26, 2010 - Press Release - Marshall Trimble, the Official Arizona State Historian gave HB -2634 a leg up with his letter of support.

March 10, 2010 - The Wilcox Range News reports on Rex Allen Jr. saddles up to support the Colonial Spanish Horse as the State Horse of Arizona now in the State Legislature in House Bill 2634.

March 8, 2010 - Colonial Spanish Hoses to appear at the 229th Padre Kino Celebration in Tucson, AZ on March 13, at 100 South Avenida Del Convento from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm. 

March 5, 2010, Arizona Republic publishes article "Rare breed up for state title," by Kristena Hansen

March 3, 2010, Tucson Sentinel publishes article "State Horse Bill rides through Legislature." by Kristena Hansen

March 2, 2010 - Cronkite New Service publishes article by Kristena Hansen titled "Enthusiasts seek to have rare breed named Arizona's official state horse."

March 2, 2010 - Arizona Citizen publishes "Never Mind The Budget, AZ needs a State Horse."

March 1, 2010 - Arizona Colonial Spanish Horse Project publishes a Press Release on Rex Allen Jr.'s support.

February 25, 2010 - HB-2634 the bill to name the Colonial Spanish Horse as the State Horse of Arizona proceeded without opposition.  We believe that HB-2634 will go to the House next week for a vote.  Check back as we will post the day and approximate time of the vote.  Please send emails of support to your Arizona State Representative...go here to find your Representative District and here to find the Representative for your district. 

February 25, 2010 - Equine Enthusiast Spring 2010 publishes "Arizona Colonial Spanish Horse Project."

February 24, 2010 - Arizona House to hear HB-2634, the bill to make the Arizona Colonial Spanish Horse the State Horse of Arizona.

February 22, 2010 - Rex Allen Jr. becomes the Celebrity Spokesperson for the Arizona Colonial Spanish Horse Project.

February 21, 2010 - Political Insider: "Lawmakers milk feel-good bill" Arizona Republic

February 17, 2010 - News Spot on KJZZ Phoenix

February 17, 2010 - "State Horse Has Ties to Our Area"  Article in the Sierra Vista Herald

February 17, 2010 - Article in the Republic

February 17,  2010 - "State horse bill galloping through the Legislature"  Article in Arizona Star

February 16, 2010 - HB - 2634 passes the House Government Committee.

February 15, 2010 - Press Release on HB- 2634

February 8, 2010 - HB-2634 will be heard by the House Government Committee on February 16, 2010.

February 2, 2010 - HB-2634 is assigned to the House Government Committee for review.

February 2, 2010 - The Colonial Spanish Horse Bill becomes a reality with HB-2643.

February 1, 2010 - County Line Riders of Catalina publishes an article by Silke Schneider on the project to have the Colonial Spanish Horse named as the State Horse of Arizona.

The December / January the Arizona Resource Guide E-News mentions the Colonial Spanish Horse Project.

Center for Desert Archaeology, Archaeology Southwest, Spring 2009, article by Marjorie Dixon on the Wilbur-Cruce Spanish Barb Horses,