Former Distinguished Service Award winner Peggy Gilbert passes
Lifetime APHA member and former Distinguished Service Award winner Peggy Gilbert died February 20, 2026. She was 89.
A horsewoman since age 13, Peggy’s first horse was a gaited Pinto. The mare’s colorful markings helped spark Peggy’s interest in the fledgling American Paint Horse Association in the early 1960s. Daughter Beth French says Peggy was one of the first women to breed and promote Paints in Western Colorado.
Peggy was instrumental in developing the first multi-judged APHA show, with support of Colin Beal in Arizona. She hosted clinics and taught lessons at her Colorado-based facility and served as a 4-H leader for about two decades. In 1992, Peggy was honored as Horseman of the Year by the Colorado Horsemen’s Council.
Her passion for Paints extended to the national level, too. Peggy was an APHA state director since 1971. She served on a variety of APHA advisory committees, including those for the National Show, Breed Improvement, Youth, Regional Club, Long-Range Planning, Ways & Means, and the Queen program. Her daughters competed with their Paints in local shows and rodeos, and Beth served as queen—Miss APHA—in 1975. Committed to fostering a love of horses in Youth, Peggy helped create APHA’s Youth membership category. Peggy received the APHA Distinguished Service Award in 2000.
“While her life was filled with faith and family, it was Paint Horses that enabled her to share her knowledge of horsemanship while promoting values such as discipline, perseverance, kindness and honesty,” Beth said. “Without a doubt, Peggy’s most enjoyable activity with Paints were the hours she spent trail riding in Western Colorado, and her fondest memories were of the many Paint Horse friends spanning the continental U.S she and her husband made over the years.”
Peggy is survived by her husband of 70 years, Harry; her two daughters; three grandchildren and their spouses; five great-grandchildren; and beloved Paint Emage Of A Cutter.
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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.