The inaugural North Central Paint Horse Championships took place September 5–6 in Lincoln, Nebraska, in conjunction with the Nebraska Paint Horse Club’s Changing Colors Show. APHA sponsored specially selected classes to reward exhibitors living in Zone 3, which consists of Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming.
The goal of the Paint Horse Championship series is to celebrate exhibitors who compete at the zone level. Exhibitors and horse owners must live in the respective zone, be a current APHA member, neither horse nor exhibitor may have placed in the Top Five of a halter or Top 10 of a performance class at the APHA World Championship Show within the last three years.
The 2015 Zone 3 show took place in January, and the timeline prevented inclusion of the North Central Paint Horse Championship at that event this year. Therefore, the APHA Executive Committee granted a one-time variance with the Zone 3 Coordinating Committee’s endorsement to allow another APHA show within Zone 3 to host the Paint Horse Championship this year.
At the September show, APHA provided awards for 15 classes—they included custom Gist Silversmiths buckles for the champions and medallions for second- through tenth-placed exhibitors. Show management stepped up to offer even more classes designated as North Central Paint Horse Championship events, bringing the total list of classes offered to 33.
“We drew in some extra exhibitors who might not have come otherwise,” Show Committee Chair Colleen Dubsky said. “The structure of the championship was nice because we gave buckles in every division. The best part of it was when the kids won the buckles. They were so excited—although the adults did like them, too!”
Unofficial class winners from the North Central Paint Horse Championships include:
- Amateur Geldings: Hez Smokin Dirty, exhibited and owned by Lizabeth Hasenkamp
- Amateur Horsemanship: Fancy Me Loot, exhibited and owned by Jackie Lissolo
- Amateur Hunter Under Saddle: Got Fancy, exhibited by Holly Shutlz, owned by Terry and Holly Schultz
- Amateur Mares: Shezz Got Connections, exhibited and owned by Wesley Siebenneicher
- Amateur Showmanship: A Scent Of Heaven, exhibited and owned by Hillary Siebels
- Amateur Trail: Shinning Goodies, exhibited by Courtney Lutjelusche, owned by Clint and Courtney Lutjelusche
- Amateur Western Pleasure: CR Midnight Machine, exhibited by Holly Shutlz, owned by Terry and Holly Schultz
- Amateur Western Riding: A Scent Of Heaven, exhibited and owned by Hillary Siebels
- Amateur Walk/Trot Showmanship: Space Cowboy, exhibited and owned by Kristine Alcorn
- Novice Amateur Hunter Under Saddle: Sum Beach, exhibited by Deb Wartick, owned by Gary and Deborah Wartick
- Novice Amateur Showmanship: Fleets Silver Charm, exhibited and owned by Dana Didde
- Novice Youth Horsemanship: Sensations Invitation, exhibited by Lucy Gewecke, owned by Kelly Gewecke
- Novice Youth Hunter Under Saddle: At A All Time High, exhibited and owned by Lindsey Padgett
- Open Barrels: Obi Wan Keonobe, exhibited by Andy Croghan, owned by Michael Croghan
- Open Color: Obi Wan Keonobe, exhibited by Andy Croghan, owned by Michael Croghan
- Open Geldings: Hez Smokin Dirty, exhibited and owned by Lizabeth Hasenkamp
- Open Hunter Under Saddle: Got Fancy, exhibited by Holly Shutlz, owned by Terry and Holly Schultz
- Open Yearling Longe Line: Intimate Lace, exhibited and owned by Darchelle Ferguson
- Open Mares: Shezz Got Connections and Wesley Siebenneicher
- Open Ranch Riding: Obi Wan Keonobe, exhibited by Andy Croghan, owned by Michael Croghan
- Open Trail: Shinning Goodies, exhibited by Courtney Lutjelusche, owned by Clint and Courtney Lutjelusche
- Open Western Pleasure: Sum Beach, exhibited and owned by Deb Wartick
- Youth Geldings: Knock Out The Magic, exhibited by Cassidy Watters, owned by Jayne and Cassidy Watters
Youth Horsemanship: Sensations Invitation, exhibited by Lucy Gewecke, owned by Kelly Gewecke- Youth Hunter Under Saddle: At A All Time High, exhibited and owned by Lindsey Padgett
- Youth Mares: At A All Time High, exhibited and owned by Lindsey Padgett
- Youth Showmanship 13 & Under: Sheza Stylin Too, exhibited by Chloe Brown, owned by Stephanie and Derek Brown
- Youth Showmanship 14–18: Dirty Words, exhibited by Heidi Borg, owned by Deborah Borg
- Youth Trail: Shinning Goodies, exhibited by Justin Lutjelusche, owned by Courtney Lutjelusche
- Youth Western Pleasure 13 & Under: Shinning Goodies, exhibited by Justin Lutjelusche, owned by Clint and Courtney Lutjelusche
- Youth Western Pleasure 14–18: CR Good Time, exhibited and owned by Ellie Bock
- Youth Walk-Trot Horsemanship: C What Heaven Sent, exhibited by Levi Lutjelusche, owned by Clint and Courtney Lutjelusche
- Youth Walk-Trot Showmanship: Just Say Josie, exhibited by Carly Rothfuss, owned by Shelly Lake
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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.