HorseCity.com becomes APHA corporate partner

FORT WORTH, Texas – The American Paint Horse Association (APHA) and HorseCity.com have teamed up to provide more publicity for the breed and more benefits for APHA members.

HorseCity.com General Manager Ryan Dohrn says, “My wife, Andre', and I have been APHA members for many years. We raise, train and compete on APHA horses. This is a true opportunity for me to extend my personal passion into a business partnership that will benefit an organization I believe in and want to see grow.”

As a corporate sponsor, HorseCity.com is a valuable partner, offering something for all APHA members. Their on-line horse news and information Web site has more than three-quarters of a million equine-oriented visitors every month and is the home of the popular Free Horse Contest.

In 2005, HorseCity.com will award one grand prize winner an APHA-registered black and white tobiano, trained by horseman Chris Cox. The winner will also receive a one-week Horsemanship 1 training session with Cox at his Outback Ranch in Mineral Wells, Texas.

“This contest generates 500,000 to 700,000 entries each month, with yearly totals falling between 6 to 8.5 million,” says Dohrn

This translates into great exposure for APHA.

APHA members and Paint Horse enthusiasts can directly benefit from the relationship, as well. HorseCity.com will stream the 2005 APHA World Show online through aphaworldshow.com so that if you can’t be in Fort Worth, you can still see the action for yourself. Cameras in multiple arenas will stream 24 hours a day.

An annual non-qualifying event for registered American Paint Horses, the World Show will include 175 classes, a select sale and more. Exhibitors will demonstrate their skills in halter, Western, English, cattle, driving and speed classes. Approximately 2,000 horses are expected to compete for more than $250,000 in total payouts at this year's show.

Also during the World Show, HorseCity.com will sponsor an educational seminar given by Cox. He will work with Painted PJ, the Paint Horse that HorseCity.com will be giving away later in the year. The seminar will take place on Saturday, July 2 on the grounds of the Will Rogers Coliseum in Fort Worth.

Recreational riders will enjoy awards sponsored in part by HorseCity.com through APHA’s popular Ride America program. People from 49 states in the U.S., eight Canadian provinces and eight other nations were actively involved in recording their riding hours and receiving recognition through the program in 2004.

APHA members at the association’s annual convention will benefit also. HorseCity.com will host a luncheon and workshop during the event, designed to help horse owners, breeders and other equine-business owners utilize online services to promote their operations with maximum impact.

“I am glad we established this relationship with HorseCity.com,” said Jim Kelley, APHA executive director. “It will enhance our industry presence by exposing a large, horse-based audience to Paint Horses, while giving current members additional benefits at the same time. We look forward to a continuing partnership.”

More about HorseCity.com
HorseCity.com, based in Augusta, Ga., offers in-depth on-line horse news and information. The site has received awards from Forbes and American Horse Publications.

HorseCity.com has developed partnerships with affiliates such as the United States Equestrian Federation, the National High School Rodeo Association and the National Cutting Horse Association. It also has a network of equine sites that includes barrelhorses.com, westernhorseman.com and ropehorses.com.

HorseCity.com is owned and operated by Morris Communications Company, a publishing business that is heavily involved in newspapers and radio stations across the country. Morris has been involved in the horse industry for 50 years, publishing award-winning equine magazines such as Western Horseman, Barrel Horse News, Quarter Horse News, The Horsemen’s Yankee Pedlar, The Horse Trader and other affiliate magazines.

More about APHA
Currently, American Paint Horses are being registered at APHA’s Fort Worth, Texas, headquarters at a rate of more than 50,000 horses each year. APHA has registered more than 811,000 horses in 49 nations and territories since it was founded 43 years ago.

APHA serves approximately 108,000 active members around the world.

Its many activities include working to preserve bloodlines and maintain the outstanding characteristics of the American Paint Horse breed.