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| Bid of $10,000
to APHA foundation nets "Half Million" for Paint
Horse breeder
FORT WORTH, Texas-Accomplished
horse breeder Floyd Moore never expected to
pay $10,000 for Half Million, but that's exactly
what he did during the American Paint Horse
Association (APHA) 2000 World Championship Paint
Horse Show, held recently in Fort Worth. Moore
is confident he got a good deal, laying down
the money to reserve APHA horse registration
number 500,000 and the name "Half Million" for
one of the 100 foals at his ranch in Huntsville,
Texas.
APHA, experiencing growth
of more than 11 percent annually, has recorded
more than 579,000 horses in its registry to
date. When number 500,000 approached earlier
this year, the association reserved that number
and the name Half Million. To raise funds to
preserve and promote the history of the American
Paint Horse through its Heritage Foundation,
APHA auctioned off the distinguished name, which
represents a significant milestone for the breed,
at its World Showcase Sale at the World Championship
Show. That event grossed more than $845,000
in sales of stallions, mares and geldings.
Never one to pass up an opportunity,
Moore jumped into the bidding after envisioning
the perfect horse that he felt deserved the
name. In a contest that Moore had not even planned
to enter, the breeder got swept up in the moment
and took the selling price of the name Half
Million from a few hundred dollars to $10,000
in the matter of a few minutes.
"It didn't take me long,"
said Moore. "I made up my mind I wanted to buy
it and I knew just the colt I wanted to give
it to."
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The colt he saw in his mind, as he escalated the bidding to five
figures, was a 7-month-old red dun tobiano colt sired by Delta
Olena, Moore's World Champion calf roping Paint that has a long
list of titles and accomplishments to his credit. "He's an outstanding
colt," said Moore, "and I knew right then he was the one that
ought to have that name-Half Million." Moore said he is impressed
by the colt's disposition, conformation and color.
With 15 years in the breeding business,
Moore has developed a knack for picking potential winners.
At his operation, Moore Ranch/6J Paint Horses in Huntsville,
he has bred, raised and sold thousands of horses, many of
which have earned distinguished show titles at events around
the world. Included on that list is Gay Bar Olena, two-time
APHA World Champion Reining Horse.
Moore is optimistic his Paint colt, Half
Million, will live up to expectations and said he is thankful
to have had a foal worthy of the title. "And I appreciate
having the opportunity to buy the Half Million registration,
because I think that's something that people will be talking
about a hundred years from now."
For his contribution to the Heritage Foundation
and his purchase of the name Half Million, Moore received
a specially designed plaque bearing the photograph and registration
certificate of his colt, with the number 500,000 and the name
Half Million inscribed on it. A permanent display of a duplicate
plaque will be placed in APHA's world headquarters building
in Fort Worth, Texas. He also received a prize package from
APHA corporate sponsors, including a monogrammed blanket from
BMB, a custom belt buckle from Gist Silversmiths, and a six-month
supply of Strongid̉ C from Pfizer.
When APHA registers its millionth horse,
Moore said he hopes to be a part of that milestone as well.
"If I'm still living and they're going to auction that name
off, too, then I'll be in the race." |
