Markel/APHA Professional Horsemen give back at 2025 World Show
Markel/APHA Professional Horsemen serve as positive APHA ambassadors at all shows they attend, but the group took it a step farther at the 2025 APHA World Championship Show. There, Professional Horsemen made themselves available to help Youth & Amateur exhibitors who attended the show without a trainer, offering showing tips, one-on-one lessons and scorecard reviews.
Director of Judges & Professional Horsemen Sandy Jirkovsky said the idea stemmed from private lessons she offers annually at the European Paint Horse Championship and from free clinics by Professional Horsemen at APHA’s Eastern and Western National Shows.
“We developed the Markel/APHA Professional Horsemen DIY [do-it-yourself] program at the World Show to expand the awareness of our talented Professional Horseman and to offer a service to our DIY Youth and Amateurs,” she said. “We went a step further [than clinics] by offering free individual instruction at the World Show. The Youth and Amateurs who took advantage of this program were very excited to participate and had raving reviews of their private lessons. We have so many talented Professional Horsemen, and they have been very generous donating their time and energy.”
Sandi Morgan of Provo, Utah, was one of the Professional Horsemen who provided instruction; she worked with Tatum Neeley and her 2-year-old futurity project horse.
“She was so appreciative of the help,” Sandi said. “If we don’t give back to the industry, it’s going to go away. We don’t need to be so selfish with our time that we can’t give away one hour to help somebody else.”
Special thanks to Sandi Morgan and Andrea Simons for their assistance to DIY Youth and Amateurs at the World Show. We also appreciate Professional Horsemen Brian Henry, Sara Simons, Karen Banister and Patty Campbell for their help with our World Show Ride the Pattern clinics and horse judging contest.
Get involved as an APHA Professional Horseman or encourage your favorite equine professional to join! Learn more at apha.com/prohorsemen.
Congratulations to our Markel/APHA Professional Horsemen’s success at the 2025 APHA World Show!
Karen Banister: World champion Senior Hunter Hack, Working Hunter, Green Working Hunter; reserve world champion Green Working Hunter
Kelly Boles Chapman: World champion Overo Color, Tobiano Color
Bryce Briggs: World champion Ranch Box Drive, Ranch Reining; reserve world champion Junior Ranch Riding; bronze world champion Ranch Reining, Tie-Down Roping, Green Ranch Trail; All-Around Open Exhibitor
John Briggs: Reserve world champion Ranch Horse Conformation
Brooke Dixon: World champion Green Ranch Rail Pleasure; reserve world champion Junior Ranch Rail Pleasure
Katie Dove: Reserve world champion Ranch Box Drive, bronze world champion Ranch Cutting
Jando Guerra: Reserve world champion Tobiano Color
Lisa Ligon: Reserve world champion Senior Hunter Under Saddle, Green Western Riding
Steve Meadows: World champion Junior Ranch Riding, Junior Ranch Trail, Green Ranch Pleasure, Green Ranch Trail; reserve world champion Junior Ranch Pleasure, Senior Ranch Rail Pleasure; bronze world champion Junior Ranch Pleasure, Junior Ranch Riding
Sandi Morgan: Reserve world champion Overo Color
Karen Qualls: Reserve world champion Senior Trail
Alyse Roberts: Reserve world champion Junior Hunter Under Saddle, Green Hunter Under Saddle; bronze world champion 3-Year-Old Hunter Under Saddle, Senior Hunter Under Saddle
Andrea Simons: Reserve world champion Performance Halter Stallions
Sara Simons: World champion Senior Western Pleasure, Junior Western Riding, Senior Western Riding, 3-Year-Old Hunter Under Saddle, Green Hunter Under Saddle; reserve world champion Western Yearling Longe Line, Green Western Pleasure; bronze world champion Junior Western Pleasure, Green Trail
Kelley Wainscott: World champion Performance Halter Stallions
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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.