| Greatest Paint Horse show on
earth expected to feature nearly 2,000 horses
World Championship Paint Horse Show set for
June 22—July 5 in Fort Worth, Texas
FORT WORTH, Texas-Approximately 2,000 horses will compete
for some of the highest honors awarded by the American Paint
Horse Association (APHA) at the World Championship Paint Horse
Show, to be held June 22-July 5 at the Will Rogers Memorial
Center in Fort Worth, Texas.
The World Championship Paint Horse Show is an annual non-qualifying
event open to all APHA Regular Registry horses and Breeding
Stock halter mares. This year, the show will include 168 classes,
five challenge series classes, three sweepstakes events, three
select sales, a trade show and many other special activities.
Youth, amateur and professional horsemen and horsewomen will
exhibit their horses during the two-week show, demonstrating
their skills in halter, Western, English, cattle, driving
and speed classes.
Activities are held in the three major arenas and in other
facilities throughout the sprawling 85-acre Will Rogers Memorial
Center, which is located in the heart of Fort Worth's cultural
district.
The World Championship Paint Horse Show is the largest single-breed
horse show held in the Lone Star State, based on the number
of horses exhibited. In addition, it attracts thousands of
contestants and spectators each year who are fascinated by
the talent and beauty of the American Paint Horse. Last year's
World Show attracted more than 144,000 visitors.
"This is a special time we all look forward to, since
it is the premier event that highlights the versatility and
athleticism of American Paint Horses," said Jim Kelley,
APHA executive secretary. "We invite people from throughout
the world to join us for 14 straight days of excitement.
"There is no charge for parking and admission is free,"
Kelley added. "For family entertainment, you can't beat
what our World Show has to offer."
Activities for everyone
In addition to competition for World Championship titles,
some highlights of the show this year include:
American Junior Paint Horse Association
(AjPHA) Horse Judging Contest
One of the most popular events for youth, the AjPHA Judging
Contest is expected to draw 100 teams. Judging takes place
in the Will Rogers Arena on Friday, June 27, at 8:30 a.m.,
with an awards breakfast to be held at the Roundup Inn on
Saturday, June 28, at 7 a.m. Youth entered in this event judge
four halter and four performance classes. For the third year,
Hart Trailers of Chickasha, Okla., is sponsoring the competition.
According to the National Horse Judging Team Coaches Association,
the AjPHA event is the largest horse-judging contest for youth
in the nation.
Colorful youth activities
A creative and fun way for AjPHA youth to compete both on
and off their horses, the Team Tournament features four team-oriented
events: a hippology contest that tests youngsters' knowledge
of horses, a parade of teams participating in the show, a
talent contest and performance class competition.
Horse & Rider seminars
APHA and Horse & Rider magazine have teamed up
to present their sixth annual seminar series. These horsemanship
clinics will be held in the Will Rogers Memorial Center's
W.R. Watt Arena. On Saturday, June 28, from 9 a.m. to noon,
clinician Chris Cox will present "Horsemanship 101."
He will teach novice riders how to build confidence and to
cue their horses gently and effectively. On Sunday June 29,
from 9 to 10:30 a.m., Tim McQuay will present "Troubleshooting
Your Reining Pattern." He will describe common reining
problems and offer world-class advice during his demonstration.
Also on Sunday, from 10:30 a.m. to noon, Cleve Wells will
offer a clinic named, "Finesse Your Cues." Wells
will demonstrate how to finesse reining cues and leg aids
to enhance a horse's Western pleasure performance. The Horse
& Rider seminar series is sponsored, in part, by
the Kent Group.
Bank One Challenge Series
This competition will include the 3-Year-Old Western Pleasure
Challenge, 3-Year-Old Hunter Under Saddle Challenge, 3-Year-Old
Reining Challenge, 3-Year-Old Cutting Challenge and 4-Year-Old
Cutting Challenge. Winners receive trophies from the National
Snaffle Bit Association, the National Cutting Horse Association
and the National Reining Horse Association.
Sweepstakes Competition
Back by popular demand is the Team Penning Sweepstakes. In
addition, the 2003 World Championship Paint Horse Show will
feature the Winnebago Freestyle Reining Sweepstakes, as well
as the Bridleless Western Pleasure Sweepstakes.
World Showcase Sales
These sales, to be held in the West Sale Arena, will showcase
some of the finest Paint Horses on the market today. Performance
and pleasure geldings will be offered Saturday, June 28, at
noon. Following that sale, 25 elite yearlings will be sold.
The mare and stallion session begins Sunday, June 29, at 1
p.m. Preview sessions will be held prior to every sale.
Colors of the West Trade Show
Always a popular attraction during the World Championship
Paint Horse Show is the Colors of the West Trade Show, which
will be held every day during the show from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30
p.m. in the Amon Carter Exhibit Hall. More than 100 vendors
selling a wide variety of products related to the horse industry
will be exhibiting at the Trade Show. For those interested
in all things equestrian, this is a shopper's paradise.
Winnebago Freestyle Reining competition
At the conclusion of the World Championship Paint Horse Show
on Saturday, July 5, the lights go down and freestyle reiners
take center stage in the John Justin arena. As part of this
competition, both riders and horses are in costume and perform
reining patterns set to music. Riders are in control of both
the pattern and the theme. Previous themes have included reining
skits from the musical Grease, to a horse and rider
in Spiderman costumes performing to songs from that movie.
Spectators who arrive late for this competition will have
to settle for standing-room-only, as this entertaining finalé
always draws a large crowd.
APHA partners add value to the
World Show
APHA has partnered with a select group of companies who offer
World Show contestants a total cash and product package valued
at more than $400,000. Those sponsoring partners include the
following.
Corporate sponsors: BMB Tack; Barnmaster, Inc.; Bank One;
Circle Y of Yoakum; Gist Silversmiths; Hart Trailer Manufacturing;
Markel Insurance Company; Pfizer Animal Health and The Kent
Group.
World Show sponsors: Boulet Western Boots, Buz Post, Metro
Golf Cars, Pro Stepps, Charlotte's Saddlery, Western Horseman
magazine and Winnebago Industries.
Associate sponsor: Hodges Badge Company, Inc.
A history of show success
APHA has hosted a World Championship Paint Horse Show with
youth, amateur and open events continuously since 1989. That
year, 866 horses participated. The total number of horses
competing at the 2002 show represents a 114 percent increase
over total horses involved at the 1989 show. That year, APHA
logged 1,720 entries. For 2002, entries totaled 4,536, representing
a 164 percent increase over the 13-year period. In 2003, APHA
expects another strong year for participation.
More about the World Championship
Paint Horse Show
For more information on the World Show, including a complete
schedule, a list of accommodations offering special rates,
entry details and more, please visit http://www.aphaworldshow.com.
More information about APHA and
American Paint Horses
Of the more than 720,000 horses registered by APHA since 1962,
498,000 of them - about 66 percent - have received their registration
certificates in the last 10 years alone. The Paint Horse enthusiasts
who drive those numbers live in 43 nations and have helped
make APHA one of the fastest-growing horse breed registries
in the world. The Association has approximately 104,000 members.
Visit http://www.apha.com
for more information.
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