Paint Horses continue to thrill
Six Flags Over Texas audiences

FORT WORTH, Texas— The American Paint Horse Association (APHA) and Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington, Texas, are once again combining lively entertainment with insightful equine education this year as part of the Rangers & Outlaws Wild West Show, scheduled June 4 through Aug. 14 at the theme park.

Paint Horses are the center of attention this summer at the Rangers & Outlaws Wild West Show at Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington. The American Paint Horse Association sponsors the show each year at the amusement park. Hirez TIFF (6.42 mb) Hirez JPEG (2.27 mb)

This marks the fourth consecutive year that APHA has been invited to sponsor the show, which features nine Paint Horses in a 20-minute live-action adventure. A significant portion of the show involves educating people about the American Paint Horse breed and its magnificent history.

Paints are used exclusively during the Rangers & Outlaws Wild West Show, which takes place three times a day Sundays through Fridays, and four times a day on Saturdays. Nearly 230 total performances are planned over 72 consecutive days.

Thousands of people of all ages will have the opportunity to see the show this summer and learn about Paint Horses in a fun and interactive environment.

Each show opens with a group of actors in early Western attire charging into the Texas Arena – the elaborate outdoor stage for the performances. All are mounted on beautiful American Paint Horses, and each carries one of the six flags that have flown over Texas during the past 500 years. The flags include those of Spain, France, Mexico, Texas, the Confederacy and the United States of America. For this year’s show, the APHA banner is also being carried – by a Paint Horse, of course.

For the next several minutes the riders thrill their audience, circling the arena at a lope in an intricate drill-team maneuver, while keeping pace with the show’s lively theme song.

Following the opening performance, the star of the show, playing the part of a Texas Rangers captain, makes a dramatic entry on his Paint Horse and prepares audience members for what they are about to see. First, however, he tells them about the beauty, versatility, athletic ability and intelligence of the American Paint Horse. He also explains the marvelous history of the breed and the opportunities for involvement that exist with APHA.

Then, it’s on with the show, which brings to life the true story of how the Texas Rangers fought outlaws and brought justice to the silver-mining town of Shafter, Texas, in 1892.

Throughout the performance, lawmen and outlaws alike ride Paints. The show is packed with excitement, including gunfights, stunts, high falls, a daring escape from a blazing hotel, and even a giant water tower explosion and silver mine calamity at the finale. Ten actors, whose specializations also include stunts and horsemanship, are part of the show, according to Robert Keith, the show’s director and stunt coordinator.

When the show ends, interaction begins between the children in the audience and the horses and the actors. That’s when the Rangers hero invites everyone to leave their seats and go down to the arena to visit with both the cast and horses. This “meet-and-greet” session has been a popular part of the show the past four years, especially with the younger members of the crowd. The actors, who study about the breed and have developed close bonds with the Paint Horses, field numerous questions, many of which center on the beautiful American Paint Horses.

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

Among the many qualities that make Paint Horses desirable are their sound

conformation, versatile athletic ability, intelligence, calm temperament, willing disposition and beautiful coat color patterns.

For more information about the American Paint Horse and APHA, visit http://www.apha.com , or call (817) 834-2742, extension 788.

More about Six Flags
Six Flags Inc. is the world’s largest regional theme park company. The company owns and operates 38 parks throughout North America, Latin America and Europe. Six Flags theme parks serve 40 of the 50 largest metropolitan areas in the United States. The parks annually host more than 50 million guests worldwide. For more information, visit the Six Flags Web site at http://www.sixflags.com .