Arizona Paint Horse Club earns top
APHA honors for community service

FORT WORTH, TEXAS—The Arizona Paint Horse Club was recently honored with the American Paint Horse Association’s (APHA) President’s Club of Distinction Award for its outstanding contributions to the worldwide breed organization. The award was presented to the club, one of more than 100 affiliated with the association, during APHA’s recent annual convention in Louisville, Ky. Only four other clubs received APHA’s highest club honor in 2007.

The Arizona Paint Horse Club recently received the American Paint Horse Association’s highest club title when it was named as an APHA Club of Distinction. Present at the awards ceremony were (from left) APHA President Carl Thurow and club members Bob Maskell, Jean Buzzard, Mark Kuhlwein, Peggy Hanshaw, Tom Elliot and Honey Lou Elliot. Courtesy APHA/Jerry Circelli © 2007. Hirez JPEG (6.08 mb)

APHA annually recognizes outstanding clubs for their contributions to the Paint Horse industry and their communities by honoring them with Gold Star Club status. From among these clubs, the President’s Club of Distinction award winners are chosen. The selected clubs exemplify the qualities of a premier regional club through services to their members, their community and APHA.

To earn the honor, the Arizona Paint Horse Club submitted materials that detailed community service and other worthwhile activities taken on by the APHA local affiliate during the previous year to a panel of three judges. For example, the club held a toy drive and a charity fund-raiser benefiting the American Cancer Society, among many other activities.

Arizona Paint Horse club members Bob Maskell, Jean Buzzard, Mark Kuhlwein, Peggy Hanshaw, Tom Elliot and Honey Lou Elliot accepted an awards package for the club that featured a Gist Silversmiths gift certificate and APHA General Store gift certificates.

The Arizona Paint Horse Club was also honored a second time by the American Paint Horse Foundation, which provides college scholarships to exemplary Paint Horse Youth among other activities. The club was recognized by the Foundation for its recent efforts in establishing and completing six endowment scholarships.

More about APHA
Since its founding 46 years ago, APHA has registered more than 928,000 horses. It currently serves more than 93,000 members, who are located in nations and territories around the world.

Among the many qualities that make Paint Horses desirable are their sound conformation, versatile athletic ability, intelligence, calm temperament, willing disposition and beautiful coat color patterns.

For more information about the American Paint Horse and APHA, visit www.apha.com or call (817) 834-2742.