Paint Horses from around the world compete at the APHA World…

…Championship Paint Horse Show

FORT WORTH, Texas—Continuing the tradition of hosting the largest Paint Horse Show anywhere on the planet, the American Paint Horse Association (APHA) welcomed 1,671 Paint Horses owned by people from 47 U.S. states, Canada, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Germany for its annual World Championship Paint Horse Show. The event took place June 24 through July 7 at the Will Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth, Texas.

APHA offered a record 183 classes at the show and logged 4,219 entries—including 1,242 Youth, 1,362 Open, 1,390 Amateur and Novice Amateur, 207 Futurity and 18 specialty class entries. The association added Youth and Amateur hunt seat equitation over fences, gambler’s choice trail and Solid Paint-Bred reining to the line-up, to make this year’s show the most diverse World Show on record.

Youth classes and activities dominated the first week of the show, while the following week hosted an array of events for Amateur and Open exhibitors. Horsemen and –women of all ages exhibited their Paint Horses at the annual non-qualifying event, displaying their skills in halter, Western, English, cattle, driving and speed classes. Those traveling from near and far competed for more than $400,000 in prize money, buckles, saddles, trailers, and other awards, along with coveted World Championship titles.

Awards and Sponsors

Event sponsors added support on many levels at this year’s event, particularly in the area of awards. Bailey Hats, Big D, Lucchese Boots, SmartPak feed supplement, Western Horseman Magazine, the Paint Horse Journal and Paint Racing News provided award certificates to winners redeemable for cowboy hats, horse blankets, monogrammed halters, boots, supplement packets, complimentary art prints and magazine subscriptions.  Blue Ribbon Custom Tack and Charlotte’s Saddlery provided Western and English Saddles for overall show winners and Charlotte’s provided leather halters for English World Champions.  Class trophys and ribbons were provided by APHA Affiliates: the National Snaffle Bit Association, the National Reining Horse Association and Hodges Badge Company.  SR Gold custom jewelers provided custom items for the judges and general event support was added by Coors Distributing Co. of Fort Worth through hosting the first-ever July 4th party. Purina Mills sponsored the Purina Mills Colors of the West Arena where educational seminars hosted by top equine professionals were held daily in the Gift Show. Additional sponsor support was provided by Jerry’s GM, Kiser, Metro Golf Cars, and Ulcergard.

APHA Corporate Sponsors contribute to the success of the association throughout the year, as well as during the World Show.  Barnmaster provided a $7,500 product certificate to the Barnmaster High-Point Exhibitor.  Chase Bank added $25,000 to five futurity classes.  Gist Silversmiths provided trophy Gist belt buckles for the five Challenge and Stick Horse classes.  Hart Trailers provided two three-horse aluminum trailers; one for the All-Around Open Horse and one for the All-Around Amateur.  Adding to the educational aspect of the show, HorseCity.com hosted a seminar featuring well-known clinician Craig Cameron on the topics of colt starting and riding the reining horse.  Markel Insurance Company provided 24-hour coverage for APHA members who purchased horses at the World Showcase Sale.  New Holland wrapped up it’s Donate and Draw (tractor give-away) program and Pro Orthopedics provided saddle pads and splint boots to winners.

Lucky winners

APHA’s newest corporate sponsor New Holland launched the Donate & Draw program to support the American Paint Horse Foundation (APHF). The opportunity to purchase tickets to win a Boomer Compact Tractor, during World Show. After $17,800 was raised to support the APHF, APHA member Joyce Reim of Cobb, Calif., was named the winner.

Another fundraiser to support the APHF—more directly youth scholarships—was made possible by Floyd and Maryann Moore of 6-J Paint Horses, who donated a yearling filly to be raffled during World Show. Wayne Iverson of Haltom City, Texas, won Wynnin Gay Bar. More than $17,000 was raised to support AjPHA scholarships.

Youth events

The first week of the show was dedicated primarily to Youth competitors. The week kicked off with the Youth team tournament. Ten youth teams participated in the competition, and the Rocky Mountain Junior Paint Horse Club went home as the team tournament world champions.

The AjPHA youth judging contest, sponsored by Hart Trailers, was another highlight. More than 300 youth from 84 teams traveled to Fort Worth for the competition, which is one of the largest in the nation.

Other happenings

World Show also featured several other ways for people to join the action outside of the show arena. The American Junior Paint Horse Association (AjPHA) sponsored a benefit goat roping, with all proceeds supporting youth activities and scholarships. The roping featured Youth, Amateur and Open categories, with Gist belt buckles awarded to the winners in each division.

After a big turnout for a similar event last year, Kids Day made its return on    July 4 in the Colors of the West Gift Show. The day’s events ranged from free horseback rides, coloring stations, and stick horse races to a scavenger hunt. More than 200 children rode American Paint Horses at the event.

The ever-popular World Showcase Sale offered 81 of the industry’s finest Paint Horses to interested buyers. Flying Dare Devil, a 5-year-old chestnut tobiano stallion, was the top-selling horse, bringing $25,000. Consigned by Greg and Jenenne Tambke, the stallion was purchased by Carlos Deleu and will soon be shipped to Brazil. The average selling price for horses in this year’s sale was $5,126.

The sale also featured four collector items to benefit the American Paint Horse Foundation. These items brought a total of $1,900.

For the first time, APHA presented a Humanitarian Award at World Show. The award was presented to Lee and Venetia Caudle of Edge O Texas Paints in De Berry, Texas. The couple donated a stud colt, First John Three, out of their multiple superior earning stallion John Three Sixteen to Roel Nieto of Uruguay. First John Three will be sent to Uruguay and become the first horse ever to be commissioned for oversees ministries.

Along with First John Three, the Caudles and Nieto, Bob Ray Sanders, vice president of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, was on hand to present the award. Sanders originally brought the story to light in a March column.

More about APHA

Currently, American Paint Horses are being registered at APHA’s Forth Worth, Texas, headquarters at a rate of about 40,000 horses each year. APHA has registered nearly 900,000 horses in 49 nations and territories since it was founded 45 years ago, and now serves approximately 100,000 active members around the world. Among its many activities, APHA works to preserve bloodlines and maintain the outstanding characteristics of the American Paint Horse breed.

For more information about APHA, contact the association at (817) 834-2742, or visit apha.com.