Ride America participant logs 10,000 hours

FORT WORTH, Texas— Donnie Gang of Twinsburg, Ohio, has entered the American Paint Horse Association (APHA) record books as the first person to log 10,000 hours in the association’s Ride America® saddle-log program. For his accomplishments in achieving this milestone with his 11-year-old gray overo gelding, Cayenne Country, Gang received a custom-made belt buckle, courtesy of Gist Silversmiths.

APHA’s saddle-log program has given Gang and other APHA members the opportunity to ride or drive their favorite American Paint Horses at their own pace and to receive recognition for their accomplishments.

“Everyone should get started on it,” Gang said. “It’s one of the best things I’ve ever done. It’s more fun than showing ever was to me. And, you get to meet some great people.”

When riders enroll in Ride America, they receive an official time log and a Ride America patch. They record each hour spent riding their American Paint Horse and as they move through 14 achievement levels—from 100 to 10,000 hours—APHA records their accomplishments on the horse’s performance record and rewards them with special patches. Depending on hours of riding reached, participants can also earn grooming products, headstalls and saddle pads.

There is no time limit for a horse-and-rider team to achieve their hours, as long as their APHA membership remains active.

“This program has really given recreational riders an entirely different opportunity to enjoy spending time riding their Paint Horses in the countryside,” said APHA Executive Director Jim Kelley. “For Donnie Gang to have reached the 10,000-hour mark is remarkable. I hope many more members will surpass that milestone in the future while enjoying the ride on their American Paint Horse.”

Gang and Cayenne started accruing hours in 1998. They have ridden in seven states, crossed vast territory on cattle drives and spent numerous hours riding at APHA’s trail ride at Fort Robinson State Park, near Crawford, Nebraska.

“Ride America really is a great program,” Gang said. “I think that APHA has done a great job making things family-oriented and recognizing horses for more than just what they do in the show ring.”

For more information about Ride America
If you’re interested in becoming part of APHA’s saddle-log program, call APHA’s Ride America coordinator at (817) 834-2742, extension 249, or e-mail rideamerica@apha.com. Also, be sure to visit the Ride America Web site at apha.com/rideamerica.

The Ride America program is sponsored in part by PRO Orthopedic Devices Inc., The Kent Group, ProStepps, Top Hand Tack, Boulet Boots and Gist Silversmiths.

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 811,000 horses in 48 nations and territories around the world since it was founded 43 years ago.

APHA serves more than 107,000 active members, who are located in every U.S. state, throughout Canada and in 39 other nations and territories around the world.