Carl Parker of Marriott-Slaterville, Utah,
named president of American Paint Horse Association

Carl Parker Hirez TIFF (4.40 mb) Hirez JPEG (818 kb)

FORT WORTH, TEXAS—Carl Parker of Marriott-Slaterville, Utah, was named president of the American Paint Horse Association (APHA) at the organization’s 2005 Annual Convention, held recently in Atlanta, Ga.

An APHA member and Paint Horse breeder for the past 20 years, Parker has been elected to the executive committee for the past five years. The executive committee sets APHA policy and is responsible for the association’s activities and fiscal integrity.

Parker said that he has enjoyed his time with the association and is eager to continue to help APHA succeed.

“I’ll always remain committed to seeing that APHA is rooted in family and a place where people feel it’s fun and worthwhile to belong,” Parker said.

“Being involved with APHA is fun,” he said. “Families enjoy it, and I know the association will continue to grow and be successful through the years.”

Parker, a man devoted to his wife, Maurine, five children and 18 grandchildren, has also continually shown his dedication to the breed and the association. He served on the Utah Paint Horse Club board of directors for 11 years and was president of the club for eight of those years. Parker has also served on the Utah Horse Council for 6 years.

Since his first involvement in 1985, Parker has seen many changes in the Paint Horse industry. Membership climbed from nearly 20,000 members that year to more than 105,000 active members today. In 1985, about 120,000 Paint Horses were registered. Today, that number has grown to more than 847,000 horses in more than 40 nations and territories around the world.

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. During Parker’s service on the executive committee, more than 1,800 horses have been exhibited each year at the World Show and entries have continued to increase. In 2005, APHA logged a record 4,848 entries at the show, representing a 7-percent increase over the previous year. There were 1,838 American Paint Horses exhibited during the 14-day period.

New in 2006 will be an exciting show and event, Paint Vegas, which will be held Dec. 6–10 in Las Vegas, Nev. Far more than your typical horse show, Paint Vegas promises five fun-filled days of futurity, jackpot and slot classes in true Las Vegas style.

Parker joins an executive committee that includes President-elect Richard Cox of Knightstown, Ind.; Vice President Alice Singleton of Mount Vernon, Ark.; Senior Committee Member Carl Thurow of Wichita, Kan., Fifth Committee Member John Corbin of Colorado Springs, Colo.; Sixth Committee Member Linda Vance of Winlock, Wash.; and Immediate Past-President Paul Reinbolt of Woodburn, Ky.

For more information about APHA and the American Paint Horse breed, visit www.apha.com, or call (817) 834-2742.