(Refrigerator was one of the most successful racing Quarter Horses of all time)
Where Gumbo Was #531
Gumbo was visiting the American Quarter Horse Museum, a nicely designed and surprisingly interesting hall of fame and museum located in Amarillo, Texas. It is a loving tribute to quarter horses by owners and admirers of this breed. By the way, no one solved this week’s travel puzzle.
Your visit to the museum starts on the outside, with some nice bronze statues situated near the Museum’s entrance which are well worth studying. For example, the photo below emphasizes the skill of these horses at cutting cattle….
The horse below is “Dash for Cash”, running to his next paycheck….
As you enter the doors of the museum you access a large lobby, with another statue of a quarter horse greeting you. There is a small admission fee to enter the museum.
The most impressive room in the museum is the Grand Hall, where in the Hall of Fame is located. There are hundreds of plaques lining its walls featuring owners, trainers, and of course the more famous quarter horses. A limited selection is shown below….
The floor of the Grand Hall features the complex lineage of quarter horses, going back to the original stud lines in America.
The museum has extensive displays describing how quarter horses were named (quickest horses at running a quarter mile), their good temperament, and their extensive skill set — cowboy chores, racing, cart pulling, etc.
Quarter horses were well adapted to life out west, often being the preferred horses of cowboys and cattlemen. But they are also well-muscled and fast creatures, so they also make good racing horses.
Some of the displays are practical. For example, the photo above compares Western and English saddles. The photo below gives a human/horse comparison.
A large section of the second-floor features displays of memorabilia, such as trophies and ribbons awarded, photographs and other assorted items of interest.
The museum has a large gallery of paintings of quarter horses, many donated by their owners. I enjoyed how these paintings highlighted these attractive creatures and showcased their skills.
My wife loves horses, and she thoroughly enjoyed the museum. I’m not a great fan of horses but found the place surprisingly interesting. I was not bored and learned a lot about this uniquely American breed.
