Texas Tech To Try New Mascot Horse At Saturday's Game Against Kansas
By: Allison Morrison
Updated: November 9, 2012
It's a tradition that's been around since the 1950's, but an injury has put a temporary halt to it this football season.
In October, Midnight Matador retired and since then, the search has been on to find a replacement horse.
"You take the progression of steps and just hope that they're going to make it to the next level," Sam Jackson said.
Jackson is an Associate Professor of Animal Sciences and the leader of the search.
He's tested more than a dozen horses, but for one reason or another, none of them have been "the one."
"A lot of them haven't met the criteria of gentle, broken, quiet, at their home, so if they can't do that in comfortable surroundings, it's useless to try to take them to the next step."
Jackson said there is one horse though, from right here in West Texas, that might make the cut.
"We have one that we want to take to that next ultimate step and see how he does."
He said the horse could be at Saturday's game against Kansas for just a minute, or maybe the whole game, but he'll be there.
Jackson explained the length of time depends on how the horse reacts to the fans, fireworks and even a fly over.
"Those are the tests because when we get to that point and he's done fine through that, the run (before kick-off) is a relief."
