FORT WORTH, Texas—Solid Paint-Bred horses were on the receiving end of several new incentives announced at the 35th Annual American Paint Horse Association (APHA) Convention, held Sept. 29-Oct. 1 in Atlanta, Ga. APHA’s solid Paint-Bred Registry includes horses that have registered Paint parents, as well as those with one Paint parent and one Quarter or Thoroughbred parent, but do not meet minimum color requirements to be included in the association’s Regular Registry.

According to APHA, the organization’s Executive Committee, directors and general membership have been working to meet the call to develop more incentives for solid Paint-Bred (formerly called Breeding Stock) horses. While solid Paint-Breds are already eligible for all of the association’s programs, APHA reported that it is making a concerted effort to increase awareness about those opportunities and to strengthen the market for these horses.

The following were announced during the Convention in support of those efforts:

• Rule change – APHA directors passed a rule stating that beginning in 2006, all APHA-approved shows must offer at least six halter classes and two performance classes for solid Paint-Bred horses.
• Solid Paint-Bred Breeders Trust waiver – The APHA Executive Committee approved a limited-time waiver for 2006. The waiver states that any solid Paint-Bred horse that has at least one Paint parent and whose sire was subscribed for the breeding year that the foal was conceived will be allowed to enroll in the Breeders Trust program, no matter its age or previous points earned. Enrollment fees are based on a sliding scale and money will be paid out on points earned as of January 1, 2007, forward. The Breeders Trust is an incentive program for those who breed, show and race horses.
• Class Fees – The Executive Committee agreed to waive all APHA show processing fees for solid Paint-Bred classes for a three-year period beginning January 1, 2006.
• New World Show classes – The Executive Committee agreed to add a solid Paint-Bred/Breeding Stock cutting, barrel race and trail class to the APHA World Championship Show schedule, provided at least six entries are made by the entry deadline. If this requirement is not met, the class will be cancelled.

A new informational piece detailing all the opportunities available to solid Paint-Bred horses is available on-line at www.apha.com/programs/competition/breedingstock.html.

In further developments, it was announced that solid Paint-Bred horses will show in the same, non APHA-pointed, classes with Regular Registry horses at the association’s Paint Vegas show, which is scheduled for December 2006. Details on Paint Vegas are available at www.aphapaintvegas.com.

Also during the recent APHA Convention, the association hosted an information-gathering forum to collect members’ views on solid Paint-Breds. The discussion, held September 29, was accessible to all members through a live on-line audio feed provided by APHA corporate sponsor HorseCity.com. More than 3,600 people logged on to listen to the discussion and offer their input through e-mail correspondence. About 70 people were part of the on-site audience in Atlanta.

The information gleaned during this session will be used as a basis for future discussions and decisions related to solid Paint-Bred horses.

“Between the large number of programs available to solid Paint-Breds that are already in place and the new opportunities announced at Convention, now is a great time for people to get out and show,” said APHA Past President Paul Reinbolt. “I encourage owners of solid Paint-Bred horses to take advantage of all the many opportunities available to them through APHA.”

APHA’s mission
While APHA has grown tremendously over its 43-year history, it continues to follow the original mission established by its early founders. That mission is to:

• Collect, record and preserve the pedigrees of American Paint Horses
• Oversee matters related to breeding and exhibition of those horses
• Create and maintain innovative programs that
  • Increase the value of Paints
  • Enrich members’ experiences with their horses
• Promote Paints and preserve their history