APHA members meet in Omaha to settle important rule change issues

FORT WORTH, Texas-More than 200 American Paint Horse Association (APHA) officers, directors and members gathered for the 2002 APHA Annual Convention, October 2-5, in Omaha, Neb. There, they tackled some of the most challenging issues the breed organization has faced since it was formed in 1962.

Ninety-eight directors, who were elected to cast votes for the general membership, approved a rule allowing registration of more than one horse foaled from a single mare each calendar year as a result of embryo transfer. They turned down a measure that would have required increased facial and body white on new Regular Registry horses with non-Paint parents, and passed legislation allowing the expansion of Paint Horse registries outside the United States.

In addition, members voted down a proposed yearling in-hand trail class and made decisions on a variety of other issues that ranged from general show and contest regulations to youth rules. All rule changes take effect January 1, 2003.

Multiple-embryo transfer rule approved
The rule change proposal on registering more than one horse foaled per calendar year as a result of embryo transfer from a single mare has been a source of heated debate for the past few years. At the heart of the issue was APHA's embryo-transfer registration rule.

A mare can produce multiple foals per year by having her embryos transplanted into donor mares. Under the previous APHA rule, only one of the foals produced by a mare in a calendar year through that breeding method could be registered with the association. The new ruling does not limit the number of registrations of horses produced as a result of embryo transfer.

Rule to allow formation of appendix registries approved
The proposal to allow horses registered in approved Paint Horse registries outside the United States to be included in a new APHA "appendix registry" was also approved by the directors.

Horses in approved Paint Horse registries outside the United States will be eligible to become part of this appendix registry if they meet APHA bloodline requirements. Once a part of this appendix registry, the horses may be bred to Regular Registry Paint Horses. As each successive generation is bred to a Regular Registry Paint, the offspring are eligible for regular registration after three generations ending with a filly, or four generations if the third-generation offspring is a colt.

Proposed new color requirements rule defeated
A color-change rule proposal considered by the directors called for increasing the amount of facial and body white required for horses with non-Paint parents to be included in APHA's Regular Registry.

The proposed color rule was defeated.

New officers
Also during the convention, members gathered for the Presidential Inauguration Dinner. There, they welcomed the newly elected Executive Committee, which now includes: President Forrest Nelson of Meeker, Colo.; President-Elect Tom Elliott of Benson, Ariz.; Vice President Paul Reinbolt of Woodburn, Ky.; Senior Committee Member Carl Parker of Marriott-Slaterville, Utah; Fifth Committee Member Richard Cox of Knightstown, Ind.; Sixth Committee Member Alice Singleton of Mount Vernon, Ark.; and Immediate Past President Bill Hittle of Hugoton, Kan.

Special recognitions and awards
The Arizona Paint Horse Club was recognized during the evening for that club's generous donation to the American Paint Horse Heritage Foundation. Charlie Waltz, club president, presented a $5,000 check to APHA during the gathering. For its donation, the club received one-eighth-size versions of the stallion and lead mare that were part of the Legacy of Color bronze commissioned by APHA.

The association also thanked Amy and Bob Romeo of Wet Paint Farms for conducting an insightful foal-training demonstration on the first day of the convention, and C.L. and Linda Werner of Painted Valley Ranch for hosting dinner and activities at their Werner Valley Lodge. Proceeds from ticket sales to the activities helped raise about $2,500 for APHA's Youth Development Foundation.

Nelson and APHA Performance Department Manager Lex Smurthwaite presented Roger and Deborah Watkins, and their daughter, Becky-all of Sprague River, Oregon--a Supreme Champion Award for Macho Town Chica. They also presented a Superior All-Around Award to Blaike Koca of Blair, Neb., for her horse, Sum Red Newton. The awards recognized the outstanding performances of these versatile American Paint Horses.

Nelson and National Director/Regional Club Coordinator Linda Foreman presented Gold Star Club Awards to APHA regional clubs for their contributions to the Paint Horse industry and their communities. The Gold Star Club Awards went to the Rocky Mountain Paint Horse Association and the Eastern Nevada, British Columbia, Delmarva and Illinois Paint Horse Clubs.

President's Club of Distinction Awards went to a select group of Gold Star Clubs recognized for outstanding service to their members, their communities and APHA. These clubs included the Rocky Mountain Paint Horse Association and the Washington State, Gulf Coast, Rainier and Delmarva Paint Horse Clubs. Honorable mentions were given to the Pennsylvania and Ark-La-Tex Paint Horse Clubs.

A look to the future
During his inaugural speech, Nelson paid a special tribute to the 6,000 youth involved in the American Junior Paint Horse Association and to the people who encourage their participation.
"These youngsters are the leaders of tomorrow," said Nelson. "Let's keep up the good work with our youth. They are our future."

Nelson pledged to work with APHA's more than 104,000 members for the best interests of the breed and the association formed to support it. The new president also challenged members to stay actively involved with the association, to set their goals high, and to work through challenges with a spirit of cooperation.

Learn more about APHA
For more information on all of the approved new rule changes, visit http://www.aphaonline.com and click on "View the Approved 2003 Rule Changes."

For more information about the American Paint Horse and APHA, visit http://www.apha.com, or call (817) 834-2742, extension 788.

Find out more about the American Paint Horse Heritage Foundation at http://www.apha.com/heritage or call 817-834-2742 extension 410.