Flying M Ranch Horsewoman
Marsha Johnson
Represents the
American Quarter Horse Association
When Texas Lawmakers Designated
the Quarter Horse as the
Official Texas Breed

On Thursday August 20, 2009, House Bill (HB) 1881 was signed by Governor Rick Perry designating the American Quarter Horse as the official horse of Texas. The singing ceremony was followed by a rare equine – centered gathering on the Capitol’s south lawn.

Marsha Johnson and registered Quarter Horses from her Flying M Ranch in Bertram, Texas were chosen to represent the American Quarter Horse Association at the Capitol lawn ceremony. With Marsha that day was J. R. Wallace. He rode the 21-year-old stallion Yubason, a two-time National Ranch Cutting Horse Association (NRCHA) World Champion Cutting Horse and NRCHA Reserve World Champion, trained and shown by his father Jim Wallace. Marsha rode a Yubason colt named Yuba’s Smoke, a 10-year-old gelding that was the 2006 NRCHA Junior World Champion Cutting Horse. Sara Moreland, a long time student of Marsha’s, rode another cutting horse champion, the eight-year-old grey gelding Smart Cross Play.

Texas’ HB 1881, known as the Texas Equine Incentive Program, became law September 1, 2009. This law created the Texas Equine Incentive Fund (TEIF) and will benefit several horse breeds in Texas by generating monetary and tax advantages. The administrative rules of the bill will be written by a panel of equine industry experts who represent Texas Quarter Horses, Paints, and Appaloosas. The fund will be administered by the Texas Department of Agriculture.

Come ride with Marsha Johnson and learn more about the American Quarter Horse and American Paint Horse breeds.