For Lori Search of Melbourne, Florida, there are a million reasons to love the APHA/WCHA Halter Million. The prospect of shiny buckles and ribbons are just the cherries on top.
Search is well known for her loud Paint halter horses, including Let Your Light Shine, a sorrel overo. She’s brought her Paints to the prestigious halter competition since 2021. Last year, Let Your Light Shine won a world championship in Yearling Mares. This year, Search and “Nexxus” earned a bronze championship in Intermediate Amateur 2-Year-Old Mares. The mare was also reserve world champion in 2-Year-Old Mares with Sean Schembri.
Join the Fun
While it is exciting to win, Search says the allure of ribbons and Top 10 titles are not why she chooses to make the 22-hour trek from Florida to Fort Worth, Texas, every year.
“I just love getting to hang out and show with my friends,” she said. “I think [Halter Million] is a blast, and it’s a great way for people to come from all different parts of the country and meet somewhere in the middle.”
The horsewoman loves sharing in the camaraderie of the Paint community and encourages anyone who has a love of Paints to take a chance, like she did, and join the Halter Million fun.
“Just do it. Get the best horse you can afford, and come and have fun and enjoy the moments of it,” she said. “Like that first time that you walk through into the arena, and they announce your name—you get all wide-eyed and all of a sudden it feels like you have no breath, no legs. And then you take a breath and walk through [the tunnel] and it just is the most calming feeling—you just get washed over. It’s like, ‘OK, I can relax. I can do this. This is fun.’ The first step is the hardest step, but then the rest of them are easy.”
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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 in 1962. APHA promotes, preserves and provides meaningful experiences with Paint Horses.