APHA enters into sponsorship with The Southern Belle Invitation program

FORT WORTH, TEXAS—The American Paint Horse Association (APHA) announces an innovative five-year sponsorship agreement with The Southern Belle Invitation program. This sponsorship allows The Southern Belle to run their Breeders’ Classes concurrently during the APHA Open/Amateur World Championship Shows scheduled for November 3-12, 201.

The Southern Belle Invitation Breeders’ Classes are open to the offspring of stallions enrolled in The Southern Belle Breeders’ program and will be held as a class within a class with regularly-scheduled APHA World Show classes. A separate entry fee from the APHA World Show class entry fee is required with 80% of the purse money paid to the Southern Belle Invitation Breeders’ Class participants placing in the top 10 and 20% of the purse money paid to the Breeders’ Class breeders. The classes are also dual-approved with the National Snaffle Bit Association (NSBA).

“The whole purpose of adding Southern Belle Breeders’ Classes to the World Show is really for the breeders to be able to promote their stallions through their offspring,” said Chris Cecil-Darnell, Show Secretary for The Southern Belle. “We currently have 22 Paint stallions in our program. Through offering these classes (at the APHA World Championship Show) we expect to see this program grow. The Paint Horse breed portion of the market is relatively untapped by Southern Belle as well as NSBA.”

The Southern Belle Invitation program specializes in Western pleasure and hunter under saddle classes. The inclusive list of classes offered at the APHA Open/Amateur World Championship Show will be announced once finalized. Watch for more details regarding all aspects of the show at aphaworldshow.com.

More about The Southern Belle Invitation
For more information and a complete list of eligible stallions with The Southern Belle Invitation, please visit tsbelle.com or call (870) 926-5285.

More about APHA
Currently, American Paint Horses are being registered at APHA’s Fort Worth, Texas, headquarters at a rate of more than 30,000 horses each year. APHA has registered more than 981,000 horses in 59 nations and territories since it was founded 49 years ago, and now serves approximately 85,000 active members around the world. APHA, a non-profit organization, prides itself on community involvement and educating the public about the beauty and talent of the breed. Among its many activities, APHA works to preserve bloodlines and maintain the outstanding characteristics of Paint Horses. For more information, visit the Association’s website at apha.com or call (817) 834-APHA (2742).