Following review of horse ownership statistics from the 2015 AjPHA Youth World Championship Show, the APHA Executive Committee recently modified the horse ownership requirements for exhibitors competing at the breed’s premier Youth show. Now, in order to be eligible for a portion of the $165,000 in scholarship money awarded at the Youth World Show, all horse transfers or show leases must be completed by March 1 of the show’s calendar year; exhibitors who lease or transfer Paint Horses after March 1 will still be eligible to compete and earn prizes at the Youth World Show, but they will not be eligible to win scholarship money awarded in each world championship class.
The policy change came in response to the committee’s review of statistics from the 2015 Youth World Show regarding leased horses and ownership transfers that took place shortly before and after the show. Because this is a World Show policy change—not a rule change—discussion and the following vote in favor of the new policy took place at the Executive Committee meeting in August 2015.
This policy change only affects the Youth World Show; horse ownership rules—including those regarding show leases and transfers of ownership—remain unchanged for the 2015 APHA Open/Amateur World Championship Show.
“The show lease program represents a new opportunity for people to enter the horse market in a more affordable way,” APHA Executive Director Billy Smith said. “This small adjustment creates some equity for Youth who are trying to earn scholarships by participating at the Youth World Show.”
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About APHA
The American Paint Horse Association is the world’s second-largest international equine breed association, registering more than a million horses in 59 nations and territories since it was founded. APHA creates and maintains programs that increase the value of American Paint Horses and enriches members’ experiences with their horses.