Indiana Paint Horse Club honored
for outstanding contributions

FORT WORTH, Texas— Members of the local Indiana Paint Horse Club (IPHC), a regional club of the American Paint Horse Association (APHA), were recently presented with the President’s Club of Distinction Award in San Antonio, Texas, for their outstanding contributions to their community and cancer research. Only five regional clubs out of 111 earned the prestigious honors.

From left, Brent Harnish, Melanie Cox-Dayhuff, and Kenny and Pauli Crull, all of the Indiana Paint Horse Club, accepted the American Paint Horse Association’s (APHA’s) President’s Club of Distinction Award recently from APHA President Richard Cox. The entire Indiana Paint Horse Club was awarded for its dedication to serving the community and the American Paint Horse breed.. Hirez JPEG (5.29 mb)

Every year, APHA recognizes outstanding regional clubs for their contributions to the breed by honoring them with Gold Star Club status. APHA selects the President’s Club of Distinction award winners from the Gold Star Clubs. The winning clubs exemplify the qualities of a premier regional club through services to their members, community and APHA.

“APHA is honored to recognize the efforts of these outstanding regional clubs each year,” said Linda Foreman, APHA’s regional club manager. “The valuable time these clubs dedicate to APHA and their communities does not go unnoticed, and helps the association continue to make new strides.”

The IPHC is dedicated to raising funds for cancer research, especially St. Jude’s Children Hospital. In October 2005, club members organized a trail ride benefiting the Saddle Up! for St. Judes’s community trail-riding event. The program is a fund-raising event in which participants receive sponsorships and take part in the ride. The club raised $6,131, all of which was donated directly to St. Jude’s cancer research.

Due to the success and great sense of self-worth the club received from the 2005 ride, members decided to host two trail rides this year. After the completion of the two trail rides this year, the IPHC raised $14,309.72. Along with the annual trail ride, the IPHC held a walk-trot class at each of its local APHA-approved horse shows, again sending all proceeds directly toward St. Jude’s.

More about APHA
Currently, American Paint Horses are being registered at APHA’s Fort Worth, Texas, headquarters at a rate of more than 40,000 horses each year. APHA has registered more than 870,000 horses in 49 nations and territories since it was founded 44 years ago, and now serves more than 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.