APHA "shows the money" with a $10,000 increase in payouts

American Paint Horse Association Gelding Plus program awards $55,000 in 2001

FORT WORTH - Now in its second year since its formation, the American Paint Horse Association's (APHA) Gelding Plus Program increased its payout to $55,000 for 2001, up $10,000 from the previous year's total payout.

At five of the nation's top futurities, Gelding Plus awarded $5,000 to the highest-advancing American Paint Horse geldings in open and non-pro divisions.

At the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Futurity, held in
Oklahoma City, Okla., in December 2001, Susie Woldt took home the
open division check for her chestnut overo gelding, Clifford Corona.
At that futurity, Carol Roberts won her $5,000 check in non-pro
division with Will He Boogie.

In fact, Will He Boogie hit the jackpot in 2001, earning a total of $10,000 in the Gelding Plus program. With Roberts in the saddle, the multi-talented gelding entered the competition already having earned $5,000 at the National Reined Cow Horse Association (NRCHA) Futurity, held in Reno, Nev., in September 2001. JoAnne Carollo's Paint, A Rainy Day Plan, picked up the $5,000 in the open division.

APHA presented its first Gelding Plus award in barrel racing at the Barrel Futurities of America (BFA) 2001 World Championship Barrel Racing Futurity, held Dec. 3-8, in Oklahoma City. Diamond Trick, owned by Larry and Debby Guy of Conroe, Texas, earned $10,000 at the futurity. The solid sorrel was the highest-advancing Paint Horse in both the open and limited rider divisions.

Smokey And The Bandit, owned by Cully and Missy Hudspeth of Louisville, Miss., was the most recent Gelding Plus recipient. The sorrel overo gelding earned the award in the open division of the National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) Futurity, which concluded Dec. 16 in Forth Worth, Texas.

Earlier in the year, APHA paid out $20,000, to the open and non-pro Western pleasure and hunter under saddle champions at the National Snaffle Bit Association (NSBA)-approved Southern Belle Invitation in Tunica, Miss.

There was not an eligible Paint Horse gelding in the non-pro division at the National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) Futurity, which brought the total payout in Gelding Plus money during 2001 to $55,000. During 2002, the APHA will again reward eligible Paint Horse geldings at these same futurities and anticipates paying out $60,000.

"As we have now completed our second year of the Gelding Plus Program, we are seeing the program achieve the goals initially set for it," said APHA Executive Secretary Jim Kelley. "Those goals included encouraging participation of Paint Horses at open equine events to showcase the breed, increasing gelding registration and to enhance the value of geldings, both colored and solid."

2001 Gelding Plus Champions

*NSBA
- Knee Deep N Zip, owned by Deborah Sayre, $7,500.
- Ima Cowboys Hitman, owned by Danielle Lassiter, $7,500.
- Real Groovy, owned by Tami Farnsworth, $5,000.

*NRCHA
- A Rainy Day Plan, owned by JoAnne Carollo, $5,000.
- Will He Boogie, owned by Carol Roberts, $5,000.

*NRHA
- Will He Boogie, owned by Carol Roberts, $5,000.
- Clifford Corona, owned by Susie Woldt, $5,000.

*NCHA
- Smokey And The Bandit, owned by Cully Hudspeth, $5,000.

*BFA World Championship Barrel Racing Futurity
- Diamond Trick, owned by Larry and Debby Guy, $10,000.

Prepare now for 2003 Gelding Plus payouts
Don't miss out on the chance to earn Gelding Plus prize money in 2003 at select futurities. It's easy to participate in the Gelding Plus program and enrollment is free. Horses in both the Regular and Paint-bred (Breeding Stock) registries are eligible. To qualify for the Gelding Plus program:

The horse must be foaled in 2000 or later and registered as a gelding prior to his 3-year-old year, or gelded and his status change reported prior to his 3-year-old year. (To be eligible for 2003 Gelding Plus payouts, owners of horses foaled in 2000 must notify APHA of their horse's gelding status prior to December 31, 2002.)

Owners of the horses must be current members of APHA.

For more information on the Gelding Plus Program, visit APHA's Gelding Plus Web site at http://www.apha.com/geldingplus