by Christine Henry
FORT WORTH—The American Junior Paint Horse Association (AjPHA) is hosting its annual Youth Leadership Conference in Grapevine, Texas on May 30-June 1. This event is being held in conjunction with the 2013 APHA Workshop at the DFW Hilton Lakes Hotel. This event is open to all Paint Horse loving youth who are interested in growing their leadership skills and meeting other youth with similar interests, as well as any AjPHA National Director, AjPHA Executive Committee member or AjPHA member; the recommended ages are 13-18.
APHA’s future leaders will be participating in an assortment of leadership games, team building exercises, and activities. Youth will spend time in small groups discussing issues relevant to their leadership roles among their national and regional clubs.
Attendees can look forward to hearing from Paint industry leaders; APHA Executive Director Billy Smith will help kick off the event by sharing select nuggets of wisdom about leadership in today’s horse world. The featured speaker is APHA Director of Judges Dave Dellin, a World Champion horse trainer and a multiple-association carded judge with great insight into today’s horse industry. Dellin will use his part of his time to educate and allow the participants to interact with him in a Q & A session.
Attendees will have the opportunity to take part in Youth Committee meetings—where adult national directors discuss initiatives that directly affect the youth program: feedback on rule changes, proposals about membership and other youth activities. This is the time for youth to be able to voice their opinion and feedback on current issues and happenings in the AjPHA.
Aside from taking part in APHA decision-making, AjPHA members present are able to meet people from across the country who have shared interests—Paint Horses and growing the horse industry.
A trip to a local therapeutic riding facility, Stable Strides Farm, has been planned. Stable Strides, located in Flower Mound, Texas, is an award winning program that gives riders with disabilities a place to learn to be effective and competitive horse people. Several of their four-legged staff are registered American Paint Horses. Attendees will also visit Select Breeders Services Southwest in Aubrey, Texas, to learn about today’s horse breeding practices. SBS handles many different breeds of horses from all over the world. These two locations will provide an interesting insight into today’s industry for the budding leaders.
Other activities include a dinner party complete with an entertainer and outdoor activities, a trip to a local tack shop, a photo scavenger hunt, to name a few.
To learn more or enroll in the 2013 AjPHA Youth Leadership Conference, visit www.ajpha.com/leadership/leadershipinfo.aspx.
About AjPHA
The American Junior Paint Horse Association is the youth association of the American Paint Horse Association. Anyone aged 18 & under (as of January 1st) with an interest in Paint Horses is invited to join the “j”.
AjPHA members enjoy the same membership benefits as adult APHA members, and can participate in APHA-approved shows and programs. AjPHA members are part of a huge family of friends sharing a common bond—a love for the American Paint Horse. AjPHA offers something for everyone, no matter how long you have been riding, where you live, or the discipline you enjoy. Learn more about what AjPHA has to offer at www.ajpha.com.
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About the American Paint Horse Association
The American Paint Horse Association (APHA) is the world’s second largest equine breed association. Headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, it celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2012. In fulfillment of its global 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 more than 55,000 active youth and adult members around the world. For more information about the American Paint Horse Association, visit apha.com or connect with Paint Horse fans globally at facebook.com/americanpainthorse or on Twitter @APHANews and @WorldShow.