Richard Cox leads popular horse breed organization
Knightstown, Indiana, man elected president
of 100,000-member American Paint Horse Association

Richard Cox, a lifelong resident of Knightstown, Ind., was recently elected president of the one of the world’s largest and most popular horse breed organizations—the American Paint Horse Association (APHA).

Cox’s election came at an annual gathering of APHA members that took place this fall in San Antonio, Texas. For six consecutive years, Cox’s peers have elected him to the organization’s highest-ranking governing body, the APHA executive committee. Prior to holding offices on APHA’s executive committee, Cox served several years as a national director and has held numerous leadership positions at the organization’s state and regional levels.

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Richard Cox of Knightstown, Ind., was recently elected president of the 100,000-member American Paint Horse Association (APHA). Cox's Valley View Farm has become well-known for producing some of APHA's finest horses. Beautiful dark-bay tobianos have become the horseman's trademark. Twenty eight APHA World Champions and Reserve World Champions have either been raised or shown by Cox’s Valley View Farm. Hirez JPEG (4.71 mb)

Cox will lead the global organization, which now includes more than 100,000 APHA members in 40 nations and territories around the world. Since APHA was formed in 1962, more than 870,000 horses have been registered by the association. New horses are being added to the breed registry at a rate of 40,000 per year.

Cox has seen membership and total horse registration in the organization grow nearly 10-fold since he first became involved with APHA almost 25 years ago.

During his many years of involvement, Cox has been a strong promoter of the unique qualities that distinguish the American Paint Horse breed. Those qualities include exceptional intelligence, willing disposition, outstanding athleticism, versatile performance abilities, sound conformation and beautiful coat patterns.

APHA President Richard Cox and his daughter, Melanie Cox-Dayhuff, are a team at Valley View Farm in Knightstown, Ind. Melanie has earned a remarkable 4,400 points in American Paint Horse Association (APHA) competition. She has ridden horses to three Amateur World Championships and three Amateur Reserve World Championships. She and the family's Valley View Farm horses have also earned 32 Register of Merit and 23 Superior awards. Hirez JPEG (5.93 mb)

Cox also places great importance on strong family values and activities that have long been associated with the organization. Throughout his service to APHA, he has supported and helped implement programs for youth and amateur members.

Cox said his interest in APHA and American Paint Horses was strengthened when his daughter, Melanie, first developed an interest in showing horses in 1983. Over the past 23 years, she has ridden the family’s Paint Horses and earned nearly 4,400 points in APHA competition, including 739 points as a youth and 3,649 points as an amateur. Melanie has ridden horses to three Amateur World Championships and three Amateur Reserve World Championships. She and her horses have also earned 32 APHA Register of Merit and 23 APHA Superior awards—some of the association’s most prestigious honors of accomplishments.

Cox is part of a core group of Paint breeders who have elevated the American Paint Horse to its successful status over the years. Not only are his horses highly respected because of their physical and mental attributes, but also they are proven performers. Easy-moving, powerfully-built, dark-bay tobianos are signatures of Cox’s Paint Horses at his Valley View Farm.

About 130 American Paint Horses have had a home at Valley View Farm, as breeders, performers or young foals.

Remarkably, 28 APHA World Champions and Reserve World Champions have either been raised or shown by Cox’s Valley View Farm. Presently, he has nearly 30 horses stabled, including two stallions, 10 broodmares, 10 weanlings and yearlings, a few 2-year-olds and several recipient mares.

While Cox plans to continue to breed and showcase world-class American Paint Horses, he said he will also utilize his time as president to further strengthen the global organization.

“I’ve witnessed tremendous growth in APHA,” said Cox. “But I think it’s important from time to time to pause and look back at where we came from, what got us to where we are today, and to take a look at what we need to do to ensure our success for the future.”

That begins with long-range planning, adherence to family values, and welcoming people to participate in APHA’s many activities.

“I feel strongly that our growth will come from youth and amateurs. So it’s very important that as we develop all of our programs, we pay particular attention to these areas.

“We will keep involving youth in our programs. When kids are having fun and getting involved, it’s contagious. Everyone starts enjoying things. That’s what our organization has always been about and that’s the course we’ll continue to chart.”

More about APHA and American Paint Horses
The American Paint Horse Association was formed in 1962 with a mission that remains as important today as it was 44 years ago.

That mission has always been to:

• Collect, record, preserve pedigrees
• Oversee matters related to breeding and exhibition
• Create and maintain innovative programs that:
  • increase value of Paints
  • enrich members’ experiences with their horses
• Promote Paints and preserve their history