Source:  News Release

Open/Amateur World Championship Paint Horse Show
marked with buckles, bronzes and barns full of top horses
More than $500,000 awarded in cash and prizes among 1,029 horses during 11-day show

Fort Worth, TX—Owners and exhibitors from 43 states, Canada, Australia, France and Mexico shared a common goal recently at the 2011 World Championship Show in Fort Worth, Texas, hosted by the American Paint Horse Association—to be named “champion.”

The show offered classes in a full range of disciplines, from halter to hunter under saddle, and showmanship to reining. This was the second phase of World Championship competition for the Association, featuring 235 classes. While the 178 World title classes are the backbone of the action, APHA also offers slot, Breeders’ Futurity, challenge and sweepstakes classes that offer cash payouts instead of a championship title. The total number of entries was 2,294.

Preliminary payout numbers indicate over $339,000 in cash was paid out to top exhibitors at the APHA World Show, including $116,761 in the Breeders’ Futurity; $110,250 in the slots; $78,300 in Challenge classes; and $19,020 in Sweepstakes payouts.

New classes

The largest group of classes added to the World Show was the Open and Amateur cattle and reining classes, which have been held during the summer installment of the show for the past several years. This change created a more uniform feel and timeline for our competitors, bringing them into the fold with the other Open and Amateur events.

APHA also teamed with other organizations within the industry to offer several opportunities for exhibitors to earn incentive money while in the show ring. Eight Southern Belle Breeders’ classes added $500 each, along with jackpotted entry fees; and two National Snaffle Bit Association (NSBA) Stallion Incentive Fund classes paid out $1,250 each plus jackpotted entry fees. Novice Amateur Hunt Seat Equitation Over Fences was added as a World Championship class. A Limited Division was offered within each slot class. Meanwhile, the Breeders’ Futurity added six performance classes for 2-year-olds in the program. Appropriate classes were approved by NSBA and the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA).

High-Point & All-Around Winners

The Association recognized All-Around titlists in the Amateur and Novice Amateur division on Tuesday, November 8 with a special ceremony at the conclusion of Amateur competition.

·       All-Around Classic Amateur (19-44)

Chelsea Bain of Scottsdale, Arizona
showing Sensational Blonde: 9-year-old sorrel overo mare (Breeders’ Trust nominated)

·       Reserve All-Around Classic Amateur (19-44)
Maggie Griffin of Tomball, Texas
showing Gallant Zippo: 4-year-old chestnut overo gelding (Breeders’ Trust nominated)

·       All-Around Masters Amateur (45 & over)

Coleen Bull of Reed City, Michigan
showing Timeless Assets: 6-year-old bay overo gelding (Breeders’ Trust nominated)

·       Reserve All-Around Masters Amateur (45 & over)
Sid Karr of Aubrey, Texas
showing Dont Rock My World: 11-year-old sorrel overo gelding

·       All-Around Novice Amateur
Kristen Shaw of Oregon City, Oregon
showing Too Hot To: 8-year-old sorrel overo gelding (Breeders’ Trust nominated)

·       Reserve All-Around Novice Amateur
Erica Miller of Troy, Ohio
showing Pines Royalty: 10-year-old chestnut overo gelding

·       Non-Pro Versatility Challenge Champion
Maggie Griffin of Tomball, Texas
showing Gallant Zippo: 4-year-old chestnut overo gelding (Breeders’ Trust nominated)

Overall awards were presented for the Open division with a ceremony on Saturday, November 12. APHA corporate sponsor Hart Trailers presented ownership of a beautiful 3-horse slant trailer to the All-Around Open Horse.

·       All-Around Open Horse + Super Gelding + High-Point English Horse

Roses And Chocolate: 8-year-old sorrel overo gelding (enrolled in Breeders’ Trust)

Owned by Bret Sanders of Mansfield, Texas

·       Reserve All-Around Open Horse

Ill Be Sensational: 7-year-old red roan overo gelding (Breeders’ Trust nominated)

Owned by Leroy Poignant of Pilot Point, Texas

·       High-Point Western Horse + Oscar Crigler Cattle Award

Gay Bar Drummer: 11-year-old dun tobiano stallion (enrolled in Breeders’ Trust)

Owned by Joni Voloshin of Craig, Colorado

·       Reserve Western Horse + Reserve Oscar Crigler Cattle Award + Reserve Super Gelding

Dreamers Knight: 5-year-old sorrel tovero gelding

Owned by J.O. & Janie Haley of La Vernia, Texas

·       Reserve High-Point English

Hes Worth The Gamble: 5-year-old brown overo gelding

Owned by Jennifer Schexnayder of New Roads, Louisiana

·       High-Point Exhibitor

Ryan Painter of Pilot Point, Texas

·       Reserve High-Point Exhibitor

Jack Wright of Penrose, Colorado

Breeders’ Trust Select Sale

The APHA Breeders’ Trust Select Sale presented by Markel Insurance was held Saturday, November 5 and offered Paint enthusiasts the perfect place to find a great horse. A total of 44 horses were consigned to the sale with JUST SAY JOSE coming out as the top-selling horse of the day, bringing former owner, Calvin Emig, $10,500.

A Yearling Sale Stakes session was added this year with 20 yearlings consigned. Yearlings selling in this session are now eligible to show in the 2-Year-Old Western Pleasure Sale Stakes class at the 2012 World Show. APHA will guarantee $2,500 in added money, and will match private sponsorships up to an additional $5,000 for a grand total of $12,500! The minimum payout is currently estimated at $19,300.

Social events

Although everyone was on hand to show their horses, not all of the action took place inside the arena. Exhibitors were treated to complimentary food and beverages at the Amateur Welcome Reception sponsored by Ron & JoAnna Shelly on November 2. World Show Sponsor eyeD Equine Identification hosted two socials in preparation for the Breeders’ Trust Sale, plus two horsemanship clinics conducted by “Road to the Horse” Champion Richard Winters toward the end of the show. Julie Marweg and Gillespie Show Horses hosted dinner for all on November 9 to promote Living Large. Championship dog races proved popular once again as well, as did shopping dozens of vendors in the Colors of the Season gift show.

Sponsor support is essential to the World Show. Corporate sponsors include Chase, Gist Silversmiths, Hart Trailers, Markel Insurance, Merial, New Holland and Purina. World Show sponsors for 2011 were Alliance Saddles by Lynn Palm, Arena Werks, Big D, Blue Ribbon Custom Tack, Cowboy Bronze, eyeD, Hodges Badge Company, Jerry’s, Metro Golf Cars, Montgomery Photographics, Paint Horse Journal, Paint Horse Racing, Platinum Performance, Tioga Territory and Video Horse World.

About the American Paint Horse Association

The APHA, founded in 1962 and headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, is the international breed registry for the American Paint Horse. In fulfillment of its mission to collect, record and preserve pedigrees of the breed, APHA recognizes and supports 111 regional and international clubs, produces championship shows, sponsors trail rides and creates and maintains programs that increase the value of American Paint Horses and enriches the members’ experiences with their horses.

APHA has registered over one million horses in 59 nations and territories since it was founded, and now serves approximately 64,000 active members around the world.

For more information about APHA and the World Championship Show, including entry details, results and a list of competitors visit aphaworldshow.com or call APHA at (817) 834-2742.