Start a Club in Your Area: Join the APHA Regional Club Network - APHA: American Paint Horse Association

Start a Club

APHA and its regional clubs are driven by the enthusiasm of our members and volunteers. Before forming a new regional club, first check if a club already exists in your area—you can check that online using our Club Finder. If there is already a club in your area, contact them to get involved!

If there is not already a club in your area and you want to start one, follow these steps to start an APHA regional club:

Three APHA members smiling with two Paint Horses.

Requirements:

  • Provide documentation that at least 20 people in the region are willing to become members of your regional club. Of that group, 10 must be APHA members in good standing, though all members of the club are encouraged to join APHA.
  • Identify the geographic area the regional club will serve. Provide a list and map of the area (counties or parishes, states, etc.) showing that area. You’ll need to hold at least two events per year, such as an open or APHA-approved show or trail ride, so keep that in mind.
  • Notify APHA of your intent to form a new club.
  • Decide the name of the club and elect officers and directors at a club meeting.
  • Draft club by-laws and a constitution.
  • If your club plans to incorporate, contact your Secretary of State to file for non-profit agricultural organization status with the Internal Revenue Service; ask for a Federal ID # under Section 501(c)(5) to the IRS.

Application Checklist:

After your club’s organizational meeting, submit the following to APHA:

  • Completed charter request application for regional club affiliation
  • Organizational meeting minutes
  • Constitution and By-Laws
  • Maps with proposed club boundaries
    • Outline club boundaries on map
    • Shade the area to be encompassed by your club
    • Submit list of counties, if applicable, to be included in your area
  • Complete list of members (include name, address, phone number and APHA ID#, if applicable).
  • List of officers with names, addresses, phone numbers and email addresses.

Next Steps:

The regional club manager will review submitted documents and notify adjacent regional clubs. The name of the club and its proposed boundaries will be published by APHA. APHA-approved regional clubs and members will have the opportunity to present objections to the formation of a new club.

Following that time, the application for charter and any feedback received is forwarded to the APHA Board of Directors for consideration at their next available meeting. The applicant will be notified of the Board of Directors’ decision and the decision will be published by APHA.

Requirements:

APHA recognizes two types of international associations/clubs to promote the breed: those that register/maintain a stud book registry of their own and those that do not maintain a stud book, but wish to promote the American Paint Horse.

Applications must be submitted in English and include all required materials, outlined in the “Application Checklist” section.

Members of all recognized international regional associations/clubs approved for charter remain governed by APHA by-laws, rules and regulations.

If you’re an international association that maintains a stud book for the purpose of promoting registered American Paint Horses, include a copy of that association’s by-laws, rule book and stud book (all in the English language). The APHA Board of Directors will determine if the stud book will be accepted for consideration under Rule RG-020.D. (International Appendix Registry.)

Application Checklist:

Submit the following material to APHA:

  • Completed charter request application for regional club affiliation.
  • Organizational meeting minutes
  • Constitution and By-Laws
  • Maps with proposed club boundaries
    • Outline club boundaries on map
    • Shade the area to be encompassed by your club