APHA Show Approvals
APHA approves a variety of Paint competitions, from single-judge shows to those with multiple judges, and even special events that offer Paint-specific classes as part of a larger competition format. Learn more about what it takes to get your show approved by APHA.
Any individual, club or organization may request APHA approval for their show. Anyone can host an APHA Single-Judge, Two-Judge or Special Event show. A Paint-O-Rama (POR) is a three- or four-judge show hosted by an APHA regional club. A Zone Show is a multi-judge show (three to six judges) hosted by an APHA Zone Coordinating Committee.
Rules for Approved APHA Shows
Check out the following rules in the APHA Rule Book for more detailed information:
- SC-090. Show Approval
- SC-095. Minimum Requirements for Shows
- SC-100. Single-Judge Shows
- SC-105. Multiple-Judge Shows
- AM-075. Show Approval Rules
- AM-080. Amateur Divisions
- AM-245. Novice Amateur General Show Rules
- YP-070. Class and Show Approval
- YP-075. Youth Age Divisions
- YP-245 Novice Youth General Show Rules
Steps for APHA Show Approval
Applying for APHA show approval makes your event more marketable for APHA exhibitors and their Paint Horses. Fill out the APHA Show Approval form on PHcentral and submit it to APHA at least 30-90 days ahead of the first date of the show. Late fees apply when received less than 90 days before the show begins, and shows will not be approved if the application is received less than 30 days before the show commences. A complete application and payment for the fees is required for consideration. Keep the following tips in mind as you fill out the application:
- Verify available show dates and possible mileage conflicts by checking the online calendar of events. If you plan on hosting your show again next year, please be aware that dates are assigned based on week numbers, as they fall in the calendar.
- Determine what type of APHA show you want to host: 1-Judge Show, 2-Judge Show, Special Event, POR or Zone Show. See the “Show Types” tab on this page for more detailed descriptions of each.
- Choose your judge(s) from the APHA Judges Directory. Remember, judges cannot judge within 200 miles within 30 days, nor can judges officiate two consecutive times at the same show or set of shows. View a sample judging contract on the Show Forms page. Restricted Judges may be used at APHA shows where the judge will only be judging certain disciplines. Restricted judges are not APHA-carded judges, but are APHA members who are carded in the discipline association for specific classes (ie: USDF for dressage, NCHA for cutting, NRHA for reining, NRCHA for working cow horse, ARHFA for judged roping, USEF for over fences, etc.).
- Determine your show sponsor, show secretary, and show manager. All three must have current individual APHA memberships. The secretary and manager cannot be the same person (but either can serve as show sponsor), and the secretary must have taken the APHA Show Secretary Certification. Memberships can be renewed on PHcentral.com.
- Prepare a show bill or premium list to submit with your application. Select classes from the Approved Class Codes
- Submit the Show Approval Application and the applicable fees in PHcentral.com. Remember: Show application fees are dependent upon the date of application submission. No show applications or changes to show information can be made less than 30 days before the first day of the show.
- To avoid late fees, submit your application at least 90 days prior to your desired show date.
| Fee Schedule: Per Judge | |
| Online Application | Fee |
| 90 days or more before show date | $39 |
| 60-89 days | $118 |
| 30-59 days | $198 |
Once your show has been approved, the secretary will be notified and sent additional information needed to host the show. Changes to the show can be made up to 30 days prior to the first date of the show. If changes are required, email showapproval@apha.com.
Special Events
Special events are a great option to get APHA classes added to a discipline-specific event, such as a hunter/jumper show, ranch horse show, team roping, reining, cutting, dressage event, etc. APHA Show Approval is required—see the previous tab for details. Special Events do not have to abide by the show mileage restrictions if they do not hold any of the same classes as another show taking place within 250 miles of their event on the same dates/weekend.
Special Events are limited to offering classes from no more than three APHA Special Event categories. If your desired class list covers more than three Special Event categories, consider holding a 1- or 2-judge show instead. There are no requirements as to divisions that must be offered for each class or a minimum set of classes.
APHA allows the use of “Restricted Judges” when limited, specific disciplines are being judged. The Restricted Judge must be an APHA member and carded in the discipline association for the classes they are judging (ie: USDF for dressage, NCHA for cutting, NRHA for reining, NRCHA for working cow horse, ARHFA for judged roping, USEF for over fences, etc.).
Special events do not maintain priority dates from year to year, so apply for your requested show dates as soon as possible annually.
Full guidelines for a Special Event can be found at SC-096. Special Paint Events and JU-000.C. Special Event Judges in the current APHA Rule Book.
Special Event Categories
- Special Event Category I: Halter, Ranch Horse Conformation, Color Class, Longe Line (Yearling and 2-Year-Old), Longe Line (3-Year-Old & Older; only in Zone 12, 13, 14)
- Special Event Category II: Barrel Racing, Pole Bending, Stake Race, Goat Tying
- Special Event Category III: Reining, Ranch Reining, Western Riding, Ranch Riding, Trail, Ranch Trail, Yearling In-Hand Trail, Yearling & 2-Year-Old In-Hand Trail, 3-Year-Old & Older In-Hand Trail (Zone 12, 13, 14 only), Utility Driving
- Special Event Category IV: Hunter Hack, Hunt-Seat Equitation Over Fences, Jumping, Preliminary Working Hunter, Working Hunter
- Special Event Category V: Breakaway Roping, Tie-Down Roping, Steer Stopping, Team Roping Heading, Team Roping Heeling, Timed Team Roping, Ranch Sorting, Team Penning, Cutting, Ranch Cutting, Working Cow Horse, Ranch Cow Work
- Special Event Category VI: Hunter Under Saddle, Pleasure Driving, Western Pleasure, Ranch Pleasure, Ranch Rail Pleasure
- Special Event Category VII: Showmanship, Hunt-Seat Equitation, Western Horsemanship
- Special Event Category VIII: Ranch Horse Conformation, Ranch Pleasure, Ranch Trail, Ranch Reining, Ranch Cow Work, Ranch Riding, Ranch Rail Pleasure
- Special Event Category IX: Mounted Shooting
- Special Event Category X: Dressage
1- and 2- Judge Shows
1-judge and 2-judge shows are fantastic for schooling, introductory and education-based shows. Any individual or group in good standing with APHA can host these shows. Clinics can be held in conjunction with 1- and 2-judge shows, and the judge can serve as the clinician.
No minimum class requirements exist for 1- and 2-judge shows. These shows are exempt from a number of show restrictions, including those that limit the number of times a judge can officiate in a state/province/country in a season. They must abide by show mileage restriction rules. In addition, 1- and 2-judge shows maintain priority dates from year to year.
Full guidelines for Single-Judge Shows can be found in SC-100 and in SC-105.B.1. for 2-Judge Shows.
Paint-O-Rama
Paint-O-Ramas (PORs) may only be hosted by APHA regional clubs; a club is restricted to hosting a maximum of two PORs a year (Exception: clubs in Zone 10 may hold up to four PORs a year, and livestock shows/state fair organizations may hold one POR with up to three judges per year without APHA regional club sponsorship). A POR can have three or four judges. The show must abide by all mileage restrictions, judge restrictions and minimum class requirements. Clubs may co-sponsor PORs with other regional clubs in order to host a POR outside of their club’s boundaries.
Zone Show
The purpose of the Zone Show is to encourage clubs within a zone to coordinate and work together to promote a larger show and to utilize any net proceeds to promote the American Paint Horse and Paint Horse activities in their respective zone. Zone Shows must be hosted by a Zone Coordinating Committee, and each zone is allowed one Zone Show per year. Zone Shows can have a maximum of six judges and must abide by all mileage restrictions, judge restrictions and minimum class requirements.
For Rules and Bylaws regarding Zone Shows and Zone Coordinating Committees, see SC-105.B.3: Zone Shows and Article VIII: Zone Coordinating Committees.
CHAMPS
The Challenged Horseman and American Paints Program for Independent and Support Exhibitors (CHAMPS) was created to give members with certain mental and physical challenges the opportunity to feel the joy of competition on their American Paint Horse and earn recognition for their accomplishments. CHAMPS classes can be added to any APHA-approved event, offered as a stand-alone APHA-approved CHAMPS event or held in conjunction with an event recognized by another organization such as US Para-Equestrian. Class results are submitted along with other APHA show results.
See the current APHA Rule Book or the PDF below for rules regarding CHAMPS classes. Exhibitors must have complete Diagnosis, Adaptive Equipment & Riding Ability, and Responsibility forms on file with APHA in addition to a current APHA membership in order to compete in CHAMPS classes. These forms must also be presented to the show office with class entries. CHAMPS forms can be found on the Show Management page.
