New England Paint Horse Club
receives prestigious APHA award

FORT WORTH, Texas— Local members of the New England Paint Horse Club (NEPHC) were recently awarded with the American Paint Horse Association’s (APHA) prestigious President’s Club of Distinction Award in San Antonio, Texas, for their outstanding dedication to the community and horse industry. Only five regional clubs out of the 111 affiliated clubs received the honors.

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 NEPHC annually supports the American Cancer Society, donating entry fees from the Amateur/Novice/Youth show. The club also sponsors the Linda Weber Memorial Showmanship Challenge and a food drive donating canned items to The Pettengill House in Salisbury, Mass.

Along with service activities, the NEPHC held six APHA-approved horse shows, sponsored the July 2005 Lakes Region Gymkhana Show and sponsored a Hi-Point Paint Trail Riding Horse award for the New England Horse and Trail Association. The club also hosts futurities, a free chicken barbecue for exhibitors and an annual awards banquet.

The NEPHC also has a very active youth club, which hosted an informative horse clinic.

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.