While there are many things to do in Amarillo, Texas, if you’re looking for something that is free and fun, then the Quarter Horse scavenger hunt is perfect for you. Officially called “Hoof Prints of the American Quarter Horse” (fun personal fact: I used to have an American Quarter Horse named Snickers), each horse is sponsored by a different business in Amarillo, and each is painted by a different local artist. It’s the brainchild of the Center City of Amarillo and the American Quarter Horse Association, “with support from the Amarillo Cultural District, Texas Commission on the Arts, and State Cultural District”.
There is also a super cool and epic mural right next to the Hooters horse that everyone should check out!) 👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼
Even though I’ve driven through Amarillo three times, I’ve never stopped/stayed there until our road trip in 2020, so I was unaware these statues existed. Impressively, there are over 100 of them. Per the city’s official website, more than 100 of these horse statues have been placed throughout Amarillo since 2002. The horses are full-size replicas of an actual American Quarter Horse, weighting around 125 pounds. Each horse is unique, having been painted by a different local artist. The artists don’t receive money for the statue, but do receive an honorarium for their work.
We unfortunately only got to visit three, due to the ball and chain known as a U-Haul trailer. We stopped to admire Hooter’s Philly, located at the Hooters right next to I-40; Salty, located near Landry’s Management off of I-40; and Longhorn Horse, located outside of Longhorn Steakhouse… also right off of I-40. There was another horse nearby at Fuddruckers, but we didn’t stop. Hooters Philly is located on the south side of I-40, and Salty and Longhorn are located right across, on the north side of the interstate. If you’re interested in seeing more of the statues, this website has an excellent comprehensive list with pictures and locations: https://centercity.org/hoof-prints/.
Overall, the “Hoof Prints of the American Quarter Horse” is a great, family-friendly activity and a super fun “bucket list” travel item. All of the statues are free to view, and saving money while traveling is always a major plus. While we regrettably only had time to search for three, there are 97+ that we missed and are probably just as cool, unique, and vibrant as these three. If you’re ever visiting Amarillo, or are passing though on Interstate 40, take some time to view and appreciate these cool pieces of art!
