FORT WORTH, TEXAS—The American Paint Horse Association (APHA) and the Appaloosa Horse Club (ApHC) have entered into exploratory discussions about the possibility of conducting overlapping Youth World Championship Shows beginning in 2013.
Such a joint venture would only materialize if the ApHC Board of Directors votes to move the location of the Appaloosa Nationals and Appaloosa Youth World Show from its current location at Tulsa Expo Square in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to the Will Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth, Texas, which is also the home of APHA’s Youth World Championship Show.
“We are still in the very formative stages of this discussion and aren’t certain where this will ultimately lead,” said APHA Executive Director Billy Smith. “We are always looking for creative ways to build momentum.”
“In the current economic climate, it is vital that horse organizations explore cooperative and creative ways to grow the horse show industry,” added Smith. “APHA is celebrating its first 50 years of growth and progressive thinking this year, and we plan to continue that trend for the future.”
About APHA
APHA, the international breed registry for the American Paint Horse, headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2012. In fulfillment of its mission to collect, record and preserve pedigrees of the breed, APHA recognizes and supports 111 regional and international clubs, produces championship shows, sponsors trail rides and creates and maintains programs that increase the value of American Paint Horses and enriches members’ experiences with their horses. APHA has registered more than a million horses in 59 nations and territories since it was founded, and now serves over 58,000 active youth and adult members around the world.
About ApHC
The Appaloosa Horse Club was established in 1938, with a mission of preserving, promoting and enhancing the Appaloosa breed. The ApHC has since registered nearly 700,000 Appaloosas, which are known for their distinctive color, intelligence and even temperament. True to their reputation as an extremely versatile breed, Appaloosas can be found in nearly every discipline including racing, endurance riding and serving as reliable family horses. The international breed registry is headquartered in Moscow, Idaho, the heart of the Palouse region—the Appaloosa breed’s namesake and point of origin.