Like any other state, Pennsylvania maintains a list of officially designated representative birds, dogs, animals generally, plants, flowers, beverages, and so forth. But we don’t have a state horse! I just realized that several states have official state horses, not to mention those which have named horses as official state animals. They include…
Alabama: The state horse is the racking horse (this means a horse with some funny extra gaits besides the walk, trot, and canter – the plantation horses that wealthy folks rode around the fields to keep an eye on their not-so-wealthy workers).
Florida: State horse is the Florida cracker horse (I know my horses and this honestly is the first time I’ve ever heard of a cracker horse).
Maryland and Kentucky: These states share the thoroughbred as their official horse.
Idaho: The appaloosa is the state horse (this makes a certain amount of sense, as the coloring of this breed is thought to have more or less originated in the Palouse Valley of Idaho).
Massachusetts and Vermont: The Morgan horse is the state horse for both (perfect for a uniquely, historically New England breed!).
Missouri: Now, Missouri has TWO official equids – they designate the Missouri Mule as their official state animal, and the Missouri Fox Trotter (another fun gaited horse) is the official state horse. Way to go, Missouri!
New Jersey: NJ has designated the horse as their state animal, no breed specified.
North Dakota: The Nokota horse is their state’s “honorary equine”.
Tennessee: TN designates the Tennessee Walking Horse as their official horse, not surprisingly. The TWH is another ride-all-day horse designed for agricultural work.
And Pennsylvania?
So, PA, let’s pick an official equid. I’m going to open the voting with a suggestion for the draft mule:
A Lancaster County draft mule: perfect!
-Jen
