American Paint Horse Association Gelding Plus program awards $55,000 in 2002

The American Paint Horse Association's (APHA) Gelding Plus program awarded $55,000 to outstanding Paint Horse performers at five select futurities across the United States during 2002. The program serves as an incentive for owners of Paint Horses by paying $5,000 to the highest-advancing American Paint Horse gelding in open and non-pro competition at participating futurities.

At the National Snaffle Bit Association (NSBA)-approved Southern Belle Invitation, held July 25-28 in Tunica, Miss., APHA paid out $20,000 to the open and non-pro Western pleasure and hunter under saddle Gelding Plus winners.

Slick Sensation, owned by Frank and Sandra Vaughn of Marine On Saint Croix, Minn., was the highest-advancing Paint Horse in both the open and non-pro hunter under saddle classes at the Southern Belle Invitation, earning $10,000. The gelding won the non-pro class with the Vaughns' daughter, Melanie, riding. Julie Suggs of Tomball, Texas, rode the horse in the open division.

The $5,000 Western pleasure open and $5,000 non-pro division checks were won by Rugged Zipper, owned by Sara Zell of Casstown, Ohio. Zell rode the gelding in the non-pro class, while Jon Barry of Advance, Mo., rode the horse in the open class.

At the National Reined Cow Horse Association's (NRCHA) Snaffle Bit Futurity, held Sept. 25-Oct. 6 in Reno, Nev., Primos Bob Acre also earned two Gelding Plus checks, for a total of $10,000, for his owners Jim and Dema Paul of Cave Creek, Ariz. Dema rode the chestnut breeding stock gelding to a Reserve Championship in the Non-Pro Futurity and finished fifth in the open division.

At the National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) Futurity, held Nov. 27-Dec. 15 in Fort Worth, Texas, Playgun Boogie, owned by Jim and Karen Short of Fulshear, Texas, earned the $5,000 non-pro check with Jim riding the solid gray gelding. The $5,000 open payout was not awarded at the futurity because there was not an eligible APHA-registered Paint gelding in the open division.

At the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Futurity, held Nov. 29-Dec. 7 in Oklahoma City, Okla., Gunners Smokin Pistol, ridden by Mario Boisjoli of Moorpark, Calif., earned $5,000 in the open division for his owner, Tina Klarin of Encino, Calif.

Also at the NRHA Futurity, Have A Plan, owned by Jim and JoAnne Carollo of Atascadero, Calif., earned $5,000 for advancing the furthest in the non-pro competition. It was the second Gelding Plus check for JoAnne, who rode the solid bay gelding. She won a check in 2001 in working cow horse competition.

During the 2002 World Championship Barrel Racing Futurity, held Dec. 9-14 in Oklahoma City, Okla., Ted and Bobbie Rutherford of Stonewall, Okla., took home a $10,000 check from APHA. Ruth Garrison of Fletcher, Okla., rode the Fletchers' gray tobiano gelding, Treasure Hunter, to advance the furthest in both the open and limited rider divisions.