Lifetime APHA member Anita Hertner of Kearney, Nebraska, was honored as APHA’s 2019 Distinguished Service Award winner on March 2 at the 2019 APHA Convention in Fort Worth, Texas.
For more than 40 years, Anita has owned, raised and shown Paint Horses. During that time, she’s tirelessly served as a promoter of the Paint Horse breed.
Anita and her husband, APHA Past President John Hertner, have bred more than 70 Paint Horses to date, including Fly Skip Fly, APHA’s 23rd Superior All-Around winner. Though she has competed with her horses, Anita’s passion is trail riding. She is one of only two APHA members who has participated in every APHA Fort Robinson Trail Ride over 23 years. Anita has also enjoyed participating in the North American Trail Ride Conference and Buffalo Belles Saddle Club. Aboard homebred Fly’s Meow, Anita tallied more than 2,600 hours in APHA’s Ride America program.
Dedicated to service as well, Anita has held offices in the Nebraska Paint Horse Club, served as director for Nebraska for many years and has served on the International, Youth and the Recreational Riding committees where she served as chair for 13 years. She also has served on the APHA Foundation Scholarship Selection Committee for a number of years.
Anita was nominated for the Distinguished Service Award by friend Sharon Hanna.
“Anita uses her Paint Horses in other ways, too,” Sharon said. “She has hauled her horse to friends’ ranches, including ours in central New Mexico, to help with cattle work. Even the longest days are fun when Anita is here.”
APHA appreciates Anita’s dedication and her outstanding work to promote the American Paint Horses—congratulations!
Read more about Anita in the Keaney Hub newspaper article.
The Distinguished Service Award was initiated in 1983 to recognize members who have made outstanding contributions in service to both the Paint Horse and APHA.
To be considered for the award, the member must have established a long-standing, consistent pattern of service through giving time, effort, special knowledge or skill in an unselfish manner to advance the Paint Horse and the association. Their contributions can be on a regional, state or national level. Any APHA member, group or club is invited to submit nominees.
##
[Reprinting all of part of this story is permitted, so long as credit is given to Paint Horse Journal and a link provide back to apha.com.]
About APHA
The American Paint Horse Association is the world’s second-largest equine breed association, registering more than a million horses in 59 nations and territories since it was founded. Its mission is to inspire, nurture, promote and provide meaningful experiences to generations interested in preserving the versatile Paint Horse.