American Paint Horses prove versatile talents
at APHA's first Paint Ranch Horse Round Up

FORT WORTH, Texas—Twenty-seven American Paint Horses representing owners from six different states—Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Pennsylvania—gathered on May 8 at the Lone Star Arena in Stephenville, Texas, to display their versatile talents in the inaugural APHA Paint Ranch Horse Round Up.

“This competition was something that was needed for our breed,” said APHA Executive Secretary Jim Kelley. “It was everything I hoped it would be in terms of quality, participation and organization. Working ranch horse competition is a great way to show the true versatility of Paint Horses because it asks for everything that a horse was bred and trained to do in the early days.”

Three Paint Horses that demonstrated their versatility received top honors in three divisions after scores were tallied from the four different challenging classes. The Paint Ranch Horse Round Up included four divisions: Open Regular Registry, Open Breeding Stock, Amateur Regular Registry and Amateur Breeding Stock. There were no entries in the Amateur Breeding Stock.

The one-day working ranch horse competition’s four classes included:
• Stock Horse Pleasure—horses were required to walk, jog and lope smoothly and efficiently on a designated course.
• Stock Horse Versatility—horses performed some of the many tasks required of them in the course of actual ranch work. Competitors walked through brush, walked over a bridge, crossed a creek, loped while riders carried a raincoat blowing in the wind, backed through a small clearing and pulled a log.
• Working Stock Horse—horses demonstrated the skill and athleticism necessary to move cattle to specific areas. Roping was allowed in this class.
• Stock Horse Reining—horses showed they could be guided and ridden willingly, without resistance, in specific patterns.

The Open Regular Registry winner was Tom Neel, riding Delta Flyer Gold Bar, a 4-year-old chestnut tobiano stallion owned by James Campagna of Huntsville, Texas.

“The competition was a lot of fun,” Neel said. “We came here hoping to win and just had an incredible go in every class.

“The most challenging by far was the cow work because of the timing with the horse running in step with the cow.”

The Open Breeding Stock winner was Rodney Rosenhauer riding RR Like A Rock, a 4-year-old sorrel gelding owned by Rosenhauer, of Burleson, Texas.

“Overall, it was great,” Rosenhauer said. “It’s important to get back to the all-around horse. And, I’ve gotten Like A Rock set up as one.”

Rosenhauer competes in various cutting, reining and working ranch horse competitions with his gelding.

“This type of competition isn’t a big pressure deal,” he said. “You pressure yourself more than anything.”

The Amateur Regular Registry winner was Maren Manuello on The Contessa, a 14-year-old red roan overo mare owned by Maren and her husband, Don, both of Sterling, Colo.

“I loved the trail course being set up outside,” Manuello said. “Everything about it was excellent. The locations of most of the versatility competitions don’t have the facilities to do so.

“The event was run really well. The organization was great. There was not a hitch to be had.”

Manuello has competed in similar versatility ranch horse type competitions for the past two years.

“This type of competition provides a whole new avenue for horses with a good mind, and maybe not the top-notch specialized horse, to compete in,” Manuello said. “This could be a really big thing for APHA.”

At the Paint Ranch Horse Round Up, horses and riders who demonstrated exceptional abilities in each class and division earned special awards. The winners of each division received custom-made Gist belt buckles. First-place competitors received a check for $150 from APHA; second-place finishers were awarded with a book, The American Paint Horse: A Photographic Portrayal; and third-place finishers were given an APHA bootjack.

After placings were announced, a special “head-to-head” round was conducted to determine the “Top Hand” in both the Open and Amateur divisions. The finale was designed for APHA’s Breeding Stock and Regular Registry Horses to compete against one another. The work-off consisted of various tasks and obstacles that combined challenges from the four classes into one.

In the Open division, Neel and “Delta” won. Manuello and The Contessa received the Top Hand in the Amateur division. They received custom spurs courtesy of Gist Silversmiths.

This inaugural event was sponsored by Gist Silversmiths, Hart Trailers and The Kent Group.

A second working ranch horse competition is scheduled for Sept. 11, to be held in conjunction with APHA’s Fort Robinson trail ride at Fort Robinson State Park, just west of Crawford, Nebraska. The ride will be held Sept. 6-10 and the competition will follow after the final day of the ride. More details will be available at a later date. APHA is also planning to host another working ranch horse competition in May 2005.

“The more working ranch horse competitions that are held, the more they are going to grow,” Kelley said. “With the Paint Ranch Horse Round Up, we wanted to help kick-start more of these competitions.”

About APHA and Paints
Since its founding 42 years ago, APHA has registered more than 765,000 horses. The association serves more than 107,000 members around the world.

APHA employs 155 people and has an operating budget of $15 million for activities worldwide.

Among the many qualities that make Paint Horses desirable is their sound conformation, versatile athletic ability, intelligence, calm temperament, willing disposition and beautiful coat color patterns.

Working ranch horse competition is one of the most recent events sanctioned by the association, following approval by its membership last fall. It is yet another of the many programs APHA carries out to enrich members’ enjoyment of their American Paint Horses.