More than 4,500 entries logged for 2002 event World Championship Paint Horse Show featured 14 days of exciting youth, amateur, open competition

FORT WORTH, Texas - The American Paint Horse Association (APHA) logged 4,536 entries at its 2002 World Championship Paint Horse Show, which concluded July 6 after a 14-day run at the Will Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth, Texas. A total of 1,857 American Paint Horses from throughout the United States and Canada participated in the annual event. Horses owned by residents of Australia, Italy and The Netherlands also competed.

Reddys Review, owned by Shawnee Wayman, of Salt Lake City, Utah, was the 2002 World Champion All Around Horse. The versatile Paint is shown here jumping to victory as a World Champion in Senior Working Hunter with Ryan Painter of Bosworth, Mo.

The first week of the show was dedicated to youth competition, while the second week included exciting amateur, open and special challenge events.

APHA has been hosting a World Championship Paint Horse Show with youth competition, followed by amateur and open events, since 1989. That year, 866 horses participated. The total number of horses competing at the 2002 show represents a 114 percent increase over total horses involved at the 1989 show. That year, APHA logged 1,720 entries. For 2002, entries logged totaled 4,536, representing a 164 percent increase over the 13-year period.

The World Championship Paint Horse Show is an annual non-qualifying event open to all APHA Regular Registry horses and Breeding Stock halter mares. This year, the show included 166 classes, five challenge series classes, three sweepstakes events, three select sales, a trade show and many other special activities. Youth, amateur and professional horsemen and horsewomen exhibited their horses during the two-week show and demonstrated their skills in halter, Western, English, cattle, driving and speed classes. They competed for more than $200,000 in prize money and prestigious World Championship titles.

The 2002 World Championship Paint Horse Show featured a variety of exciting action. Here, Ascencion Banuelos of Jacksboro, Texas, rides Diamond Bud to victory in the 3-Year-Old Cutting Challenge. The horse is owned by Mishawum Farm Inc., of Freedom, N.H.

Special World Show activities for youth and amateurs provided additional opportunities for Paint enthusiasts to get together. Highlights included the American Junior Paint Horse Association (AJPHA) World Championship Show judging contest, in which 332 youth from across the country participated, a youth team tournament, and a variety of social events. A total of 1,196 youth entries were logged for the show.

Youth members also highlighted some of the work they have done the past year while assisting at therapeutic riding centers around the nation. In cooperation with Rocky Top Ranch in Keller, Texas, AJPHA sponsored a demonstration during which eight children with physical and emotional disabilities displayed their horsemanship skills. Some of the children had suffered spinal chord and brain injuries. Through "therapeutic riding," they have been able to rehabilitate themselves, regain their self-confidence, improve their fine motor skills, and have fun again.

The demonstration not only highlighted the results of AJPHA members' efforts, but spotlighted the important role horses are now playing in the physical and mental therapy of people with disabilities.

In addition to the many activities involving youth, the World Show featured three special clinics for people of all ages. Sponsored by APHA and Horse & Rider magazine, the clinics were free to the public. They included top horse trainers from around the country working with horses in the show ring to help those in attendance improve their horsemanship skills. Topics ranged from starting a young horse under saddle to refining a rider's skills in working cow horse events.

A special Original Gold Reining Horse Clinic was also conducted at the show. At this clinic, members of the Nation's Cup Gold Medal Reining Team demonstrated their personal reining techniques and gave tips for all levels of riders.

Along with offering clinics, APHA took the opportunity to introduce its new "Legacy of Color" bronze sculpture during an open house at its Fort Worth headquarters. The bronze was erected earlier this year in commemoration of APHA's 40th anniversary. The 125-percent-life-size piece, at the entrance of APHA headquarters, depicts a stallion, two mares and a foal loping through a field. Marrita McMillian of Gainesville, Texas, was also on hand during the open house. At the World Show, she also displayed 1/3- and 1/8-lifesize maquettes of the sculpture. Proceeds from the donations for those pieces are being used to support the APHA Heritage Foundation, which is dedicated to promoting and preserving the history of the association and Paint Horses.

The Colors of the West trade show continued to be a popular attraction at the World Championship Paint Horse Show. Visitors were able to see and purchase the horse industry's latest fashions and innovative products. Large-equipment exhibitors displayed their products along the sidewalks throughout the Will Rogers Memorial Center, and more than 100 commercial enterprises sold Western and English apparel, tack, art, equine products, furniture, barns, trucks and trailers, to name only a few of the items featured.

Sponsors add value to World Show
To further ensure a successful World Show, APHA partnered this year with a select group of companies to offer a total cash and product package valued at more than $400,000 for contestants. Those sponsoring partners include the following - Corporate sponsors: BMB Tack, Barnmaster Inc., Gist Silversmiths, First USA, Hart Trailer Manufacturing, Markel Insurance Company and Pfizer Animal Health. World Show sponsors included: Atwood Hat Company, Inc.; Boulet Western Boots; Circle Y of Yoakum; Metro Golf Cars; Pro Stepps; Stubben, North America; and Texas Motors Ford. Associate sponsors were: Hodges Badge Company, Inc.; Cowboys & Indians magazine; and Russell Feed.

More about the World Championship Paint Horse Show
For a list of World Champions, as well as other results and highlights from the World Championship Paint Horse Show, visit aphaworldshow.com.

More information about APHA and American Paint Horses
Of the more than 670,000 horses registered in 43 nations by APHA since 1962, 450,000 of them, about 67 percent, have received their registration certificates in the last 10 years alone. The Paint Horse enthusiasts who drive those numbers have helped make APHA one of the fastest-growing horse breed registries in the world.

Currently, American Paint Horses are being registered at APHA's Fort Worth, Texas, headquarters at a rate of about 57,000 horses each year. The association serves more than 100,000 members, who are located in 36 nations and every U.S. state.

Among the many qualities that make Paint Horses desirable to so many people 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 www.apha.com, or call (817) 834-2742, extension 788..

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