American Paint Horse Association
passes new ‘One Paint Parent’ rule

FORT WORTH, Texas—Beginning January 1, 2005, all horses that are entered in the American Paint Horse Association (APHA) Regular Registry must have at least one registered American Paint Horse parent, as a result of a new rule passed at the association’s annual convention, held Sept. 29 through Oct. 2, in Tucson, Ariz. The new “One Paint Parent” rule does not affect horses previously registered with the association, but will prohibit an estimated 400 horses from receiving registration certificates in 2005.

According to the former rule, horses with two American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA)-registered parents, two Jockey Club (JC)-registered parents, or a parent from each of those registries could be registered in the APHA Regular Registry, if they met APHA’s color requirements. While the color standards for APHA registration will not change in 2005, bloodline requirements will be different from any previous years.

The JC will register horses, regardless of contrasting colors, if the parents are both JC-registered Thoroughbreds. Prior to March of this year, AQHA would not register foals resulting from two registered Quarter Horse parents, if it determined that the offspring displayed “excessive” white. The AQHA passed a rule earlier this year, however, allowing such foals to be registered, regardless of the amount of white on the body.

In 2003, APHA registered 511 cropouts, representing approximately 1 percent of the 51,117 new horse registrations issued that year.

APHA directors faced a similar One Paint Parent rule in 2003, but narrowly defeated it. This year, the rule proposal was passed by a vote of 63 directors in favor of the “One Paint Parent Rule,” 38 opposed to it and one abstention.

“This is a move in the right direction for the Paint Horse breeder,” said Paul Reinbolt, APHA’s newly elected president. Reinbolt, of Woodburn, Ky., has served on the APHA Executive Committee for the past five years and has been a lifetime member of the organization since he joined it 30 years ago.

"I don't think we will see major changes in the registration numbers for

the first few years," said Reinbolt. “But I do think we will see an increase in the numbers of registered American Paint Horses in the future, as a result of this change.

“The issue has come up in the past, but this year the language was clear and concise enough for everyone to understand. Starting in January, Paints registered in our Regular Registry will need to have at least one registered American Paint Horse parent. A rule like this has to be a positive for our breeders, who are the lifeblood of this organization.

“I am convinced the American Paint Horse will remain one of the most popular breeds in the world, and our membership will continue to reach new record levels. It’s because our members make decisions, like the One Paint Parent rule, through a democratic process, for the betterment of the breed.”

Yearling In-Hand Trail Class becomes a reality
In other legislation, directors approved a Yearling In-Hand Trail Class. This class is limited to yearlings and points will be applied toward a Register of Merit (ROM). Points in the class will not count toward an APHA Champion award, or any other APHA awards.

One handler will be allowed to show a maximum of two horses and entries will be judged on performance of the horse over obstacles. A point value will be assigned to each obstacle and points added or subtracted from this score based on the horse’s performance over that obstacle.

According to the new rule, courses will be designed for horses to demonstrate the walk and jog. Points will be added or subtracted from a horse’s total score on the obstacles based on his attitude, manners, style, way of going, and manner of travel.

A minimum of six and maximum of eight obstacles will be used in this class. Horses and their handlers may be asked to fulfill a variety of requests over or through the obstacles, including walk-overs, trot-overs, back-throughs, side-passing, pass through water, turning, crossing bridges, carrying or dragging objects, or opening and closing a gate. This will be an optional class for APHA’s regional clubs to offer.

The class will be judged on the exhibitor’s ability over the fences, not that of the horse. The manner in which an exhibitor elects to ride the course, the pace and the approach to the jumps would be used to evaluate the exhibitor’s judgment and ability.

At least four obstacles are required in the class, and horses will jump a minimum of six fences. At least one change of direction is required. The minimum height for fences is at least two feet, six inches, with a maximum height of three feet.

This class will be offered in both the Youth and Amateur divisions.

Amateurs to be awarded in each age division
Directors also approved a rule proposal that allows awards to be given in each age group for various year-end Amateur awards, including the Top 20 and Honor Roll. The age divisions include 19–44 and 45 and older.

These year-end awards will be given to the 20 Amateurs in each age group who earn the most points with one horse in Amateur halter and performance classes. A contestant may exhibit more than one horse, however, the points earned by the Amateur with each horse will be compiled separately.

For the Amateur Honor Roll awards, the 10 Amateurs and their horses in each age group earning the most points in each Amateur event during the year will be listed. A minimum of eight points must be earned in order to be eligible for Honor Roll recognition. Tabulation of this award will be based on the age of the Amateur.

The APHA Amateur Zone Award will go to the top five Amateurs and their horses in each age group.

The prizes and certificates issued for Amateur Top 20, Honor Roll and Zone awards remain the same, but would be given in each age group.

Future meetings
APHA’s next membership gathering will be held June 2–4, 2005 in Irving, Texas. There, at APHA’s Annual Workshop, directors will decide which rule change proposals will advance for a vote at the next APHA Convention. That assembly will meet September 29­–October 1, 2005, in Atlanta, Georgia.

More about APHA
Currently, American Paint Horses are being registered at APHA’s Fort Worth, Texas, headquarters at a rate of more than 50,000 horses each year. APHA has registered more than 792,000 horses in 48 nations and territories around the world since it was founded 42 years ago.

APHA serves more than 108,000 active members, who are located in every U.S. state, throughout Canada and in 39 other nations and territories around the world.

Among its many activities, APHA works to preserve bloodlines and maintain the outstanding characteristics of the American Paint Horse breed.