| Paint Horse
ambassador showcased at Kentucky Horse Park
FORT WORTH, Texas-He could
become the world's most popular Paint Horse.
Through November, 15-year-old Paint Horse gelding
Docs Lucky Lynx will meet and greet more than
700,000 horse lovers at Lexington's Kentucky
Horse Park.
Last October, the American
Paint Horse Association (APHA)-in a joint effort
with the Kentucky Horse Park-invited its members
to nominate their horse for an ambitious mission.
The task was to provide an exemplary Paint Horse
for the Horse Park's Parade of Breeds. Several
outstanding representatives were volunteered,
but when all the votes had been cast it was
"Lucky" who emerged the winner.
"We had a lot of videos on
some good horses come in, but Lucky really stood
out," said Kentucky Horse Park's Director of
Equine Operations R. K. Walker. "We were really
hoping we would get him."
Owned by Jo Ann Carollo of
Atascadero, California, Lucky made the two-day
trip to Kentucky in early March. The journey
was a cinch for this road pro.
"When he came off the van,
he acted like he was home," said Walker.
After two weeks of mandatory
quarantine, it was time for the gelding to get
down to business. And Lucky's no rookie when
it comes to performing before an audience. Demonstrating
the Paint Horse breed's versatility to hundreds
of people each day, the adept gelding has years
of show experience behind him. Winning nearly
$25,000 in the National Reined Cow Horse Association
(NRCHA), Lucky has earned many titles, including
the NRCHA's highest honor, the Supreme Cow Horse
award. Given to horses earning at least $15,000
in the association's Snaffle Bit Futurity and
hackamore and bridle classes, only a handful
of equine athletes have received the honor.
During his tenure at the park,
Lucky will perform daily in the Parade of Breeds,
which gives visitors an opportunity to see and
learn about some of the resident horse breeds
up close and personal. Handlers and riders in
native costume or proper show attire demonstrate
the horses' special characteristics, while an
announcer explains the history and common uses
of the breed. Afterwards, Lucky and his rider
remain on hand at the Breeds Barn to answer
questions and treat visitors to a slice of the
American Paint Horse experience.
If you would like more information
on visiting the Kentucky Horse Park and the
International Museum of the Horse, call (606)
233-4303, or log onto www.imh.org.
The APHA was formed in 1962 with approximately
3,800 horses in the registry. Today, more than
562,000 Paints are registered with the association,
making the Paint Horse the fifth-largest horse
breed in the world. The APHA has the distinction
of having the highest average growth rate of any
major breed for the past five years. In 1999 alone,
the association registered more than 62,000 foals.
Now more than 84,000 members strong, the APHA
strives to preserve and promote the history, breeding,
training, racing, showing, sales and enjoyment
of American Paints. For more information about
the APHA and its programs, call (817) 834-2742,
extension 788, or go online at www.apha.com. |
