2024 APHA Eastern National Championship Show expands in successful Ohio debut
The 2024 APHA Eastern National Championship Show, August 22–25, generated significant increases, recording growth of 57 percent in total horses and 43 percent in entries over 2023 numbers.
This year’s event took place at the World Equestrian Center in Wilmington, Ohio, which will host the Eastern National Show through 2026. It featured 170 Eastern National Championship classes and 20 all-around awards, attracting 284 horses and 1,242 entries. International Ranch Horse Association classes paid out over $8,000, too.
“The 2024 Eastern National Championship Show was a great event, featuring large classes with stiff competition coupled with sponsored events that made the show fun for our exhibitors,” Director of Incentive Programs Matt Arias said. “We are already evaluating ways to improve the show for our exhibitors in 2025.”
In addition to competing for national championships and prizes, exhibitors and fans also participated in a Markel/APHA Professional Horsemen Clinic, Ride the Pattern, game nights, tie-dyed t-shirts, friendship bracelet-making station, ice cream social and more. Special thanks to MARS EQUESTRIAN, who generously sponsored all Novice Youth and Youth Walk-Trot entry fees; BUCKEYE Nutrition, who sponsored coffee, donuts and the ice cream social; and Boehringer Ingelheim, who sponsored the game nights.
Future Eastern National Championship Show Dates
- August 21–24, 2025, at the World Equestrian Center, Wilmington, Ohio
- August 20–23, 2026, at the World Equestrian Center, Wilmington, Ohio
All-Around Champions: 2024 Eastern National Championship Show
Open Ranch
Only Crome Guns, owned by Christina Steiner, Cary, North Carolina
Open Solid Paint-Bred Ranch
Sparks N Guns, owned by Kathy Brown, Staunton, Virginia
Amateur Ranch
Shine Whitle Shine & Karen Johnson, Burns, Tennessee
Amateur Solid Paint-Bred Ranch
Kissin Uptown & Claire McClintock, Pilot Point, Texas
Novice Amateur Ranch
Chromed Out Shotgun & Eric Frick, New Tripoli, Pennsylvania
Youth Ranch
Bad Acid & Henlee Brittenham, Ramseur, North Carolina
Open Show Horse
Especially Lazy, owned by Angelica Zizza, Saugus, Massachusetts
Open Solid Paint-Bred Show Horse
Its Hubbout Time, owned by Lindsey McCracken, Houston, Texas
Amateur
CR Open Range & Kevin Smith, Palmyra, Wisconsin
Masters Amateur
Call Me A Cowboy & Jamie Ross, Grayslake, Illinois
Amateur Solid Paint-Bred
Its Hubbout Time & Lindsey McCracken, Houston, Texas
Novice Amateur
Im Not Battman & Joclyn Cratt, London, Ontario, Canada
Amateur Walk-Trot
No Doubt Ima Ten & Jamie Smithenry, Willow Hill, Illinois
Amateur Solid Paint-Bred Walk-Trot
I Know Im Hot & Jessica Heyen, Petersburg, Illinois
Youth 13 & Under
Invitation To Ride & Aliyah Attar, Pepperell, Massachusetts
Youth 18 & Under
Especially Lazy & Angelica Zizza, Saugus, Massachusetts
Youth Solid Paint-Bred
Told You I Wasspecial & Aislinn Clark, London, Ontario, Canada
Novice Youth
Saint From Above & Ethan Jones, Dansville, Michigan
Youth Walk-Trot 5–10
Red Hot Lilly & Annalee Davidson, Adairsville, Georgia
Youth Walk-Trot 11–18
A Good Time & Lucy Kehoe, Kansas City, Missouri
Photography by Ruehle Photographix.
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About APHA
The American Paint Horse Association is the world’s second-largest international equine breed association. Since it was founded in 1962, APHA has registered more than a million horses in 59 nations and territories. APHA promotes, preserves and provides meaningful experiences with Paint Horses. Learn more at apha.com.