South Dakota couple earns top award
from American Paint Horse Association

Richard and Josephine Waldner of Brookings, South Dakota, received the
American Paint Horse Association’s (APHA’s) highest honor, the
Distinguished Service Award, during the organization’s annual
convention held recently in Tucson, Arizona. The award recognizes
people for their many contributions to the association and the horse
industry in general.

APHA President Paul Reinbolt, left, presents the American Paint Horse Association’s Distinguished Service Award to Josephine and Richard Waldner of Brookings, South Dakota. Hirez JPEG (1.28 mb)

Richard has served on numerous APHA committees and has been either a
director or alternate director since 1985. He has also served as
president and board member of the South Dakota Paint Horse Club and has
held judging credentials with APHA and six other horse breed
organizations.

Josephine’s involvement with APHA began in 1986, when she took a seat
on the APHA Youth Committee. She has served as an alternate national
director for South Dakota and recently was elected to a term on the
APHA Youth Development Foundation. Josephine has also been involved
with other equine organizations. She has been chairman and vice
chairman of the South Dakota 4-H Horse Board and served as president
and vice president of the South Dakota 4-H Leaders Association.

The Waldners join ranks with only 23 other APHA members who have
received the award since it was introduced in 1983.

More about APHA
Dedicated members like the Waldners have helped APHA become one of the
largest and fastest growing breed organizations in the world today.

Since its formation in 1962, APHA has registered more than 793,000
horses in 48 nations and territories around the world. APHA has been
registering new American Paint Horses at a rate of about 50,000 per
year.

Participation in many APHA activities and programs also continues to
grow in popularity, including the World Championship Paint Horse Show,
held annually in Fort Worth, Texas. In 2004, APHA logged more than
4,500 entries in that show, which featured more than 1,800 American
Paint Horses over a 14-day period.