APHA Past President Mike Short passes
Former APHA President Mike Short died October 6, 2024. He was 71.
A lifelong horseman who grew up in New York, Mike became captivated by the Paint Horse breed’s flashy markings, spirit and athleticism as a teen in the early 1960s. His appreciation for the fledgling breed launched him into more than 60 years of APHA involvement.
Originally competing as an Amateur—Mike was the No. 1 Amateur in 1986 with I’ma 4 Grand and earned five national championship and reserve titles—he later became a professional trainer. Though he excelled in developing all-around horses, Mike was especially successful in hunt-seat events—hunter under saddle, over-fences and pleasure driving. In a March/April 2019 Paint Horse Journal article, Mike says he lost count of the number of world championship titles he earned with horses like JS Bad To The Bone and Timeless Assets. He also was a Markel/APHA Professional Horseman and an APHA judge from 2003–2022. Mike retired with the Judge Emeritus award, which he received in 2023.
Driven to Inspire
Mike’s leadership involvement spanned four regional clubs and extended to the national level as a state director, committee member and Governance Task Force member. In 2014, he was elected to the APHA Board of Directors; he served as APHA president in 2019–2020.
Outside of horses, Mike worked for a New York company that helped implement the National School Lunch Program in the 1980s. He later was a senior living and hospice administrator in Oklahoma.
APHA extends our condolences to Mike’s family and friends.
“Mike was instrumental in building APHA into what it is today,” APHA CEO David Dellin said. “His knowledge and perspective were always valued in every situation. He was a great leader for the industry, while also brightening every room he walked in. I will greatly miss hearing his laugh and having his council.”
APHA Director of Judges & Professional Horseman Sandy Jirkovsky agrees.
“Mike Short was a true ambassador for APHA,” Sandy said. “He served APHA in so many capacities—president, respected judge, horseman, clinician and breeder. Mike is the reason I decided to get involved with APHA; he always made me feel like my opinion was valuable. Little did I know, Mike had the ability to make everyone think they were a valuable part of APHA. He made everyone feel welcome and his smile was infectious. I judged many World Shows with him, and his stories kept everyone laughing. Success in life is when someone makes a positive impact on at least one person, so I think Mike was a huge success. He impacted so many of us!”
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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.