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| APHA
hosts 14 days of world-class competition
Nearly 2,000 horses
shown in three arenas at 2001 World Championship
Paint Horse Show
FORT WORTH, Texas-Equestrians from 45 states
and four Canadian provinces packed the Will
Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth, Texas,
for the 2001 World Championship Paint Horse
Show, held June 24 through July 7. They brought
nearly 2,000 horses with them to compete in
the 166 youth, amateur and open classes offered.
The show, sponsored annually by the American
Paint Horse Association, was extended two days
this year to accommodate growing interest. Covering
14 days, it was the longest-running APHA World
Show to date.
At stake were World Championship titles in
Western, English, cattle, driving, speed and
halter classes. Also up for grabs were tens
of thousands of dollars in prize money in sweepstakes
competition in team penning, freestyle reining
and bridleless Western pleasure. Big money was
also at stake in a challenge series featuring
Western pleasure, cutting, hunter under saddle
and reining competition.
In all, APHA awarded $100,000 in prize money
for the World Show-$25,000 more than last year.
In addition to world-class American Paint Horses
exhibited in three different show rings, Paints
also took center stage during the two-day World
Showcase Sale, held in conjunction with the
show. The sale, which drew an overflow crowd
of more than 1,300 people each day, included
lively bidding during a gelding session, a mare
and stallion session, and a yearling session
that debuted this year.
The high-seller for the 2001 sale was an American
Paint Horse stallion named Grays Spotlight, who
sold for $35,000. The high-selling mare, Zippin
KT, sold for $30,000, while the top-selling gelding,
Colonel Quanah, went for $15,000. The top yearling
was Zipper Stripper, a filly who sold for $15,000. |
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Special World Show activities for youth and amateurs provided
additional opportunities for Paint enthusiasts to get together.
More than 400 youth representing 4-H clubs, Future Farmers
of America (FFA) chapters and regional American Paint Horse
youth clubs nationwide participated in the world's largest
horse judging contest.
They competed for coveted trophy buckles, plaques and other
prizes. A total of 100 teams, consisting of four contestants
to a team, judged American Paint Horses during the event.
Young equestrians interested in one day representing the
United States in reining competitions around the world moved
a step closer to their dream during the show's Young Rider
Reining Medal Class. The class was hosted by APHA and the
United States Equestrian Team (USET) to help USET test the
abilities of individual reiners and identify future international
riders.
More than 1,250 youth entries were logged during the World
Show, which included a full week of activities for young riders.
Junior Paint Horse Club members also participated in a youth
team tournament and were entertained with a variety of social
events.
The 2001 World Show also hosted the fifth annual Horse &
Rider seminar series. The series, which was free to the public,
featured top trainers from around the country who helped those
in attendance improve their horsemanship skills. Spectators
learned how to solve problems commonly associated with training
young horses and also gained valuable tips on showing. A free
"brown-bag lunch series" was also held daily at
the show. Horse health topics, presented by show veterinarian
Dr. Joe Stricklin, ranged from helping horses avoid heat stress
to how to evaluate a horse before buying one.
With thousands of people attending the World Show, APHA took
the opportunity to introduce its "Legacy of Color"
bronze project. Sculptor Marrita McMillian of Gainesville,
Texas, was on hand throughout the show to display 1/3- and
1/8-lifesize maquettes of the larger-than-life bronze she
is creating for the APHA headquarters in Fort Worth, Texas.
That bronze is expected to be completed in 2002.
Proceeds from the sale of the maquettes will be used to fund
APHA's Heritage Foundation. That foundation is dedicated to
preserving the history of the American Paint Horse, as well
as supporting education and research to benefit American Paint
Horses and their owners.
More about APHA and the World Show
The American Paint Horse Association (APHA) has been hosting
a World Championship Paint Horse Show since 1989. That year,
866 horses participated. Since that time, APHA has seen an
increase of 118 percent in the number of horses involved in
World Show competition and a 171 percent increase in entries
logged.
The association was founded in 1962. By that year's end,
early members had recruited 150 fellow Paint Horse enthusiasts
and registered 250 horses. By the end of 2000, APHA had enrolled
more than 100,000 members. To date, the association has registered
more than 616,000 Paint Horses.
The Fort Worth-based non-profit association employs 165 people
and maintains an operating budget of more than $15 million
for activities worldwide.
For more information about the World Championship Paint Horse
Show, the "Legacy of Color" bronze project, APHA programs,
or APHA in general, please call (817) 834-2742, ext. 788, or
log on to www.apha.com. |
