APHA hosts more than 1,800 horses at premier event
World’s largest American Paint Horse show
features exciting international competition

Fort Worth, Texas—The American Paint Horse Association (APHA) lived up to its reputation as exclusive host of the largest and most comprehensive breed exhibition of its kind, with the World Championship Paint Horse Show, held recently in Fort Worth, Texas.

The World Championship Paint Horse Show, which included more than 1,800 horses and more than 4,500 entries over 14 days, was filled with action-packed competition and excitement. (APHA Staff photo) Hirez JPEG (1.98 mb)

For the fourth consecutive year, more than 1,800 horses competed at the World Show—a 14-day annual event that has become the proving ground for competitors striving to show that they ride or own the best American Paint Horses in the world.

American Paint Horses competing in the show represented owners from 46 states in the United States, several provinces in Canada, as well as locations in Australia, Belgium, Germany and Italy. In addition, teams from the United States, Canada, Australia and Germany competed in the Youth Paint World Games, which debuted at the World Show this year. The widespread participation of nations was proof that APHA’s World Show is growing in international popularity.

An annual non-qualifying event open to all APHA Regular Registry horses and Breeding Stock halter mares, the World Show included 166 classes, five challenge series classes, three sweepstakes events, three world-class Paint Horse sales, a trade show and many other special activities.

Exhibitors demonstrated their skills in halter, Western, English, cattle, driving and speed classes in three major arenas at the 85-acre Will Rogers Memorial Center, which is located in the heart of Fort Worth's cultural district.

A total of 1,809 horses competed for more than $250,000 in total payouts at this year's show. According to APHA, 4,540 entries were logged, including 1,436 in open competition, 1,438 in youth, 948 in amateur, 474 in novice amateur, and 244 in futurity and special classes.

The World Show has experienced steady and sustained growth throughout the years. The 1,809 horses shown this year represents a 44-percent increase over the 1,259 horses exhibited 10 years ago. Also, the 4,540 entries logged this year is a 42-percent rise over the 3,192 entries at the World Show a decade ago.

Traditionally, the first half of the show is dedicated to youth competition, and this year was no exception. American Junior Paint Horse Association (AjPHA) youth enjoyed a full week of special activities and competition, which included the world's largest comprehensive judging contest for youngsters, sponsored by Hart Trailers.

More than 300 youth participated in the contest.

A special Youth Team Tournament was also held, which included four team-oriented events: Hippology, Parade of Teams, Performance Classes, and a new knowledge relay event. The relay involved an obstacle course with horse-related challenges, from assembling a bit to filling a water bucket. Even those too young to ride a horse had the chance to participate, with AjPHA’s annual stick horse contest.

Youth were also involved in offering chances to win a beautiful yearling filly donated by Floyd Moore of 6-J Paint Horses in Huntsville, Texas. Moore generously donated the filly to AjPHA in order to help the organization raise funds for its 2004 AjPHA Youth Leadership Conference, to be held in Tucson, Ariz., this fall.

Exciting open, novice amateur and amateur competition took place during the second week of the show.

APHA also held its Bank One Challenge Series. The Series included 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. Exhibitors competed for cash prizes and trophies from the National Snaffle Bit Association (NSBA), National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) and National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) in these events.

The Team Penning Sweepstakes was also held during the show. In addition, the 2004 World Show featured the Winnebago Freestyle Reining Sweepstakes and the Bridleless Western Pleasure Sweepstakes.

Always popular, the World Showcase Sales were held during the show and included several international buyers in attendance. The sales featured some of the best yearlings, mares, geldings and stallions on the market.

Also, special guests of the World Show this year included Josh Lyons, Bob Avila and Lynn Palm. Through a cooperative with Horse & Rider magazine and Merial’s Zimecterin Gold, APHA was able to offer actual training demonstrations from these popular clinicians free of charge to World Show attendees.

The World Show ended its final night with a bang, when the Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association (CMSA) entertained a standing-room-only crowd. Eight of CMSA’s top competitors from Colorado, Arizona and Texas displayed their riding and shooting skills. All were mounted on beautiful, talented and athletic American Paint Horses.

Partners add value to the World Show
Contestants this year earned a total cash and product package valued at more than $400,000, due to the cooperative efforts of APHA and its special World Show partners. Those sponsoring partners included the following.

Corporate sponsors: BMB Tack; Barnmaster, Inc.; Bank One; Gist Silversmiths; Hart Trailer Manufacturing; Markel Insurance Company and The Kent Group.
World Show sponsors: Boulet Western Boots, Jerry's, Merial’s Zimecterin Gold, Metro Golf Cars, Pro Stepps, Charlotte's Saddlery, Paint Horse Journal magazine, Top Hand Tack, Western Horseman magazine and Winnebago Industries.

Associate sponsors: National Snaffle Bit Association (NSBA) and Hodges Badge Company, Inc.

Complete results and more
On the APHA World Show Web site, you can read Around The World features that were published daily during the show. View them at http://www.aphaworldshow.com/news.

In addition, you can view live broadcasts from the show at http://www.aphaworldshow.com/nowshowing.shtml

Find all this, including complete show results and more, at http://www.aphaworldshow.com