Holden adds horse to list of Missouri's state symbols

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri now has a horse to add to its 15 official state symbols.

Gov. Bob Holden on Tuesday signed into law legislation that makes the Missouri Fox Trotting Horse the official state horse.

The Fox Trotting Horse will soon join the mule (state animal), catfish (state fish), the bluebird (state bird), honeybee (state insect) and paddlefish (state aquatic animal) among Missouri's 15 official symbols.

The legislation, which goes into effect Aug. 28, is the eighth bill signed into law by Holden this year.

Holden signed the bill near the Ozark town of Ava, which is the world headquarters of the Missouri Fox Trotters Horse Breed Association.

The horse has been specifically bred in Missouri for about 200 years and has a gait (walk) that is easy both on the horse and rider.

"This history of Missouri and the fox trotter are richly intertwined," Holden said.

The Missouri Fox Trotting Horse is used both for show and trail rides throughout the country.

"It is no wonder that it is one of the most popular gaited horse in the world," Holden said. "We are proud, and it is only fitting that it become the official horse of our state."

The legislation was sponsored by Sen. Morris Westfall, R-Halfway, and Rep. Van Kelley, R-Norwood.

Meanwhile, horses were also the focus on attention Tuesday in Jefferson City.

A group of Oklahomans traveling by horse from the site of the federal building bombing in Oklahoma City to ground zero in New York City arrived at the Capitol Tuesday afternoon and received a proclamation recognizing them.

Their journey began April 19, the seventh anniversary of the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Building, and is scheduled to end Sept. 11, the first anniversary of the terrorist attacks.

The Ride4America is a charity event to raise money for terrorist victims.