Day of the Horse

At the request of Horsemen’s Council of Illinois, on March 8, 2016  Governor Bruce Rauner issued a proclamation officially declaring December 13th as the Illinois Day of the Horse.   In doing so, Governor Rauner helped to raise awareness throughout the state of the importance of equines to the economy, history and character of Illinois.   The date of December 13 coincides with the date designated by Congress as the National Day of the Horse.

With this action, Illinois joins states including New Jersey, Maryland, Kentucky and Delaware, which have also issued Proclamations recognizing horses and the importance of the equine industry to the state and local economies.

“Equines were instrumental in building our great state of Illinois and they still figure mightily into its economic and social fabric.  The horse industry, and its ancillary professions and services, generates billions of dollars to Illinois’ GDP and horses provide tens of thousands of our residents with recreation, service, labor and companionship”, says Sheryl King, President of the Horsemen’s Council of Illinois.

Companion legislative recognition in the form of a Senate Joint Resolution has been sponsored by Senator William R. Haine (56^th Senate District) as Senate Joint Resolution 0046, filed March 8, 2016