Republican agricultural commissioner candidate J. Michael Teets says West Virginia should become a leading horse state.

Teets says the state should follow the leads of Kentucky and Virginia, which have active horse industries.

The Hardy County farmer says West Virginia needs to develop modern showing facilities to bring horse owners and breeders to the state for conferences and competition.

Several horse parks have been proposed in various parts of the state in the past, but none have been built.

According to a West Virginia University study, the state's horse industry generates about $509 million a year and employs about 13,000.

Teets' comments came during an address last week at a statewide horse industry meeting.