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| APHA announces
innovative program for earning valuable credits
and awards
FORT WORTH-A good thing just
got better for horse show competitors, with
the introduction of Paint Alternative Competition
(PAC) by the American Paint Horse Association
(APHA). The program, to debut Jan. 1, is tailor-made
for exhibitors who often find themselves too
busy at other equine events to compete in APHA-sponsored
shows. Through Paint Alternative Competition,
exhibitors will earn prestigious awards and
can have valuable credits recorded on their
horses' permanent performance records.
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Barrel racing is just one
of the many categories in which competitors
can earn valuable credits through APHA's
Paint Alternative Competition. The credits
are recorded on a horse's permanent performance
record. |
Actually a new and improved
version of the Outside Competitive Activities
Program (OCAP), Paint Alternative Competition
allows participants to concentrate on their
interests in earning prestigious recognition
for their horses.
While APHA approves more than
1,000 horse shows each year, the association
realizes that exhibitors are reaching major
milestones on their Paints at a variety of other
competitions.
Whether they're out earning
a blue ribbon at a local 4-H show or top honors
at National Barrel Horse Association (NBHA)
events, APHA members can receive special credits
and awards for their performances at a variety
of shows.
"OCAP was a great program," said Tina Anderson,
APHA director of shows, "but we found that a lot
of people didn't know about it. It's been called
a 'sleeping giant.' " |
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Born anew as Paint Alternative Competition, the program has been
revitalized with streamlined registration practices, a growing
list of recognized activities, and attractive awards packages.
New awards, based on credits earned at competition
in venues outside the APHA show arena, include:
Certificate of Recognition (COR)-Honor
for horses that have won at least 20 credits in any one category.
Certificate of Achievement (COA)-Given for horses that
earn 60 or more credits in a category.
PAC Year-End Leaders-Horses that earn more credits
during the calendar year than any other horses have earned
in a specific category.
Top Five-Top five winners in each category.
Six PAC Top Five-Top five horses garnering credits
in six different categories.
Six PAC Champion-Single horse winning six different
categories.
With 27 competition categories sponsored
by numerous organizations, Paint Alternative Competition exhibitors
have a wide range of opportunities to earn valuable credits
and awards.
A growing list of categories includes: Barrel
Racing, Combined Training, Cutter and Chariot Racing, Cutting,
Dressage, Driving, Endurance and Competitive Trail, English
Pleasure, Equitation, 4-H English, 4-H Western, 4-H Showmanship
English, 4-H Showmanship Western, 4-H Timed Events, Games,
Halter, Handicap Competitions, Over Fences, Reining, Roping,
Showmanship, Team Penning, Trail, Western Pleasure, Western
Riding, Working Cow Horse, and Yearling Longe Line.
If studies about the interests and activities
of APHA members are any indication, Anderson expects participation
in Paint Alternative Competition to increase rapidly in the
coming months.
"In a recent survey, 31 percent of our
members indicated that they were involved in competitive activities,"
she said, "but only 17 percent of them compete in APHA competition."
Based on those numbers, Anderson said that the potential exists
for 14,000 members to be receiving credits for their competitive
activities through Paint Alternative Competition.
To learn how you can earn credits and awards through Paint Alternative
Competition, along with a listing of competitive categories
and organizations hosting recognized events, contact the APHA
Performance Department at (817) 222-8455. |
