Andrea Joy Campbell: “I am today submitting a resolution to designate December 13, 2004 as ``The National Day of the Horse.'' The image of the…”

“I am today submitting a resolution to designate December 13, 2004 as ``The National Day of the Horse.'' The image of the horse is a fixture of American society, an icon whose role has changed greatly through the history of our Nation, but whose status has never wavered. Even for the very forefathers of our country, the horse has meant not only transportation and utility, but companionship and a way of life. Who can forget the indelible images to which horses have given rise? Mere mention of the American West conjures pictures of Plains Indians hunting buffalo, dusty ranchers and cowboys on the trail for the great cattle drives, and vast herds of wild mustangs roaming free across the undiscovered frontier. Horses have been used in military campaigns, police operations, to say nothing of their roles in agricultural labor as beasts of burden. Modern interest in horses ranges from the serious thoroughbred horse breeders, trainers, and jockeys whose work we enjoy at events such as the Breeder's Cup, which will be run later this month, to the thousands of Americans who enjoy riding horses with no concern for ribbons or money, but as a welcome respite from their otherwise hectic lives and a link to the past. The horse industry is highly diverse, and supports a wide variety of activities in all regions of the country; from the pastoral activities of breeding, training, and riding horses to more urban pursuits such as horse shows and competitive racing.”