PRESS RELEASE
For more information, contact:
Cristin Conner, Director of Membership, Merchandise and Subscriptions
(817) 834-2742 ext. 409
[email protected]
To honor its 50th anniversary, the American Paint Horse Association is proud to announce two priceless works that have been commissioned to commemorate the achievements, founding and journey of the association and the breed.
“Sustaining the Legacy”
Joining the unparalleled collection of artwork displayed at APHA headquarters is “Sustaining the Legacy,” an original colored-pencil illustration by noted equine artist Suanne Wamsley. The piece was specially commissioned to mark APHA’s 50th anniversary.
Suanne produced the work in her Sunbird Studio in Ruidoso, New Mexico, using her signature photo-realism technique. The original will hang in the APHA headquarters in Fort Worth, and by joining, renewing or extending an APHA membership for five years, you’ll receive a free 8” x 10” fine art print of the original, ready for framing.
“I’m honored to have illustrated this piece to honor APHA’s 50th anniversary,” Suanne said. “As a longtime APHA member and proud Paint Horse owner, I was inspired to continue the Paint Horse legacy through this piece. It’s a true representation of APHA’s foundation and signals the promise of the breed’s future.”
A familiar artist to many Paint Horse fans, Suanne produced the artwork for the 1993 and 2005 APHA World Championship Shows. Her 2005 World Show poster was recently immortalized on the new Equestrian Multi-Purpose Building at the Will Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth, Texas.
Fifty Years: A Golden Beginning
APHA is proud to announce the release of Fifty Years: A Golden Beginning, a book that chronicles the formation, progress and rapid growth of the breed and association.
Fifty Years: A Golden Beginning brings fresh insight from some of APHA’s most influential history-makers. The book was written by APHA Distinguished Service Award Recipient Duke Neff and former APHA Executive Secretary and Paint Horse Journal founder Sam Ed Spence.
No matter your stake in Paint Horses—as a breeder, owner, member or admirer— Fifty Years: A Golden Beginning is a necessity for any equine enthusiast. Readers will relive the association’s founding days and track its wide-reaching development across the globe.
“Fifty Years: A Golden Beginning is a great read for any friend of the Paint Horse,” APHA Executive Director Billy Smith said. “If you’re new to APHA, you’ll find the vivid descriptions and historic recollections fascinating; if you’re a longtime APHA supporter, you’ll love this reflection of the breed’s past.”
Published by Donning Publishing, Fifty Years: A Golden Beginning is available exclusively through the APHA General Store and retails for $40. To order, visit store.apha.com or call (877) 460-6275.
Both “Sustaining the Legacy” and Fifty Years: A Golden Beginning are available through the APHA General Store at store.apha.com.
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 celebrates 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 over 64,000 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.