Meet the APHA Board: Tina Shanahan
Service is the name of the game for Retired U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Tina Shanahan. An APHA member, breeder and Amateur exhibitor for over 20 years, Tina has a heart for Paint Horses and wanted to give back to the organization that gave her so much. When the chapters of her 30-year military career closed in 2018, Tina decided to give back as an APHA state director. In 2024, she was elected to the association’s Board of Directors. She brings extensive experience in strategic planning, crisis management and leadership to her role on the board, along with a heartfelt commitment to advancing APHA through clear value, strengthened infrastructure, conscientious policy-making and investment in Youth.
“APHA and Paint Horses have been an important part of my life and I felt called to serve, to give back,” Tina said. “I was able to convince my fellow members that my 30 years of military service could be beneficial to APHA. I told folks, ‘Well, at least you know I’m not afraid to go into battle if the need arises.’ It’s true—I would go to battle for APHA. I am very grateful to the membership who supported me. I feel like I am making a real difference.”
Building a Strong & Stable Future
“The best part of being on the Board of Directors is the opportunity to serve and be a part of the future of the organization. It’s very fulfilling to look over the horizon and navigate the organization through challenges while at the same time listen to the concerns of the membership and help design innovative programs to meet their needs. Examples include Paynt Points, Color Bonus, and building stronger animal welfare and criminal provisions into our rulebook. It’s also so invigorating being a part of a team that shares the same enthusiasm for the organization. I have really enjoyed getting to know my fellow Board members.
“The biggest misconception is that the Board harbors a desire to hold all the power. That’s the exact opposite of why we exist. We exist to represent the membership and to build a firm foundation for a strong and stable future. I wish more members would take on active role. It’s actually difficult to recruit people to serve. If you have the desire to serve, bring it! We will welcome you with open arms.”
Learning to Lead
“Leadership is the ability to inspire confidence and guide others toward a shared vision with clarity, integrity and compassion. It means ‘walking the walk’ through my actions, communicating openly and creating an environment where people feel valued, supported and can continue to grow. Leadership isn’t about control—it’s about service, responsibility and helping others succeed while continuing to grow myself. Leadership is about courage—the courage to do the right thing every time—and it requires a lot of personal sacrifice. To me the rewards of seeing my team excel far exceeds the sacrifice.
Horsemen = Natural Leaders
“Leaders are everywhere and there are many different kinds of leaders. Leadership is a skill that can be taught but not everyone wants to be or should be a leader. It is best developed through foundational training and experience. It can be learned from mentors and emulating others. Leadership traits emerge as early as pre-school and continue to develop through life-long learning. Learning to be a great leader must be intentional.
“I have really enjoyed bringing my leadership training to APHA and sharing it with our membership. I developed a leadership course specifically for APHA members; I call it ‘Leadership Lessons from the Herd.’ It bases leadership training on horsemanship principles. I taught it to our international membership in Denmark, and it was so exciting watching the audience come alive with the recognition that because they are horsemen, they are natural leaders. I’ve shared it with the National Snaffle Bit Association’s Tomorrow’s Horsemen program, and APHA is giving me the opportunity to teach it again at the 2026 Leadership Gathering.”
Taking a Stand
“I believe the future for the entire industry is being challenged. It’s getting more and more difficult to ride, raise and show horses. It’s not just the economy; it’s the fact that we lack incentives for grazing lands, farm credits and other policies. As a result, agricultural businesses are dwindling at a time when prices are on the rise. I was very excited recently to see that APHA can make a real difference in the area of public policy. Through our efforts, in collaboration with some of our sister equine organizations, we were able to negotiate out harmful and unnecessary provisions in the Horse Protection Act. If allowed to be enacted as written, I believe our entire show industry would have been disrupted. That effort makes me believe APHA can have an even greater impact on public policies going forward.”
Existing to Serve
“The organization exists to serve its membership. Members need to remember how important they are to our future. We can’t be effective without your input.”
Photo by Gardline Photography
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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.