Rhonda Culp of Little Elm, Texas, will be honored June 27 as APHA’s 2024 Distinguished Service Award winner.
An APHA member for 15 years, Culp’s foray into Paints came through her daughter, Lynsey, who was an AjPHA member active in horse judging and leadership opportunities. Tagging along with her daughter, Culp naturally became involved in APHA and the Texas Paint Horse Club, too. When her daughter graduated and went to college, Culp remained involved—by then, APHA and its members were family.
Though she grew up in a horse-loving family and raised an equestrienne of her own, Culp’s impact hasn’t come from in the saddle. Instead, she’s dedicated her equine involvement to Youth development and leadership.
Service Highlights
- APHA state director since 2016
- APHA advisory committee member (Youth, World Show and Long-Range Planning), including chairman of the Youth Advisory Committee in 2019 and 2020
- Texas Paint Horse Club board member for more than a decade
- Texas Paint Horse Club president in 2017-2019 and again in 2024
- Texas Paint Horse Club Youth advisor since 2011
- Outreach to Paint-owning exhibitors at the Texas State 4-H Horse Show, including daily giveaways, high-placing Paint awards and free tack/show clothes
- Fielding multiple Youth Team Tournament squads at the APHA World Championship Show
- Mentoring Youth, including multiple former AjPHA presidents and officers
“The Youth are my passion and the reason I stayed involved after Lynsey graduated,” Culp said. “I saw what the leadership opportunities could do for kids, and I felt like that was a way I could get more kids involved. They may or may not show horses the rest of their lives—we hope they do—but the leadership and the life lessons they learn by being involved with horses are something that can never be replaced.”
Celebrate
Culp will be honored by APHA at the 2024 APHA Hall of Fame Induction & Awards Ceremony, taking place June 27 at 6 p.m. in the Round Up Inn in the Amon Carter Building at Will Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth, Texas. The ceremony takes place in conjunction with the APHA World Championship 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 in 1962. APHA promotes, preserves and provides meaningful experiences with Paint Horses.