We know that your riding and driving activities are as diverse as the color patterns on the Paints we register. Through the Paint Alternative Competition Program, you can get recognition for accomplishments in competitive events outside of APHA approved shows or for just spending time in the saddle with your Paint. The PAC program has multiple programs that feed into it such as PAC Recreational Riding, E-Shows, and other events outside APHA. As a result, your accomplishments can be recorded on your registered horse’s official lifetime performance record through PAC.
Your community likely offers plenty of competitive events for horses and riders such as 4-H shows, team pennings, open shows, ropings, horse trials, and other activities that fall outside the category of “APHA-approved events”. Even though APHA is not officially associated with these events, the association does want to recognize your efforts with your American Paint Horse.
PAC credits are awarded for all non-competitive hours spent riding! We know that you spend countless hours exploring trails, taking lessons, training your promising next show horse, all for those few minutes in the show pen. You can earn PAC credits for those hours by logging and submitting them monthly. These hours count towards perpetual and year end recreational riding PAC awards.
Simply record each hour you spend riding or driving your Paint Horse (not including at time spent at competitions) and submit online or send your log to APHA. As you move up through the achievement levels, APHA records your accomplishments and each hour you and your Paint Horse achieve is permanently recorded on your horse’s official lifetime performance record. Check out our Guide to Recreational Riding for tips on trail safety and how to get the most out of your time in the saddle!
Following are the PAC categories and their description that have been pre-approved by APHA . Classes are grouped within each category as staff sees fit. Examples of where classes are categorized can be seen below. Please note the 2022 category revisions in bold.
Open Class Categories
Youth Class Categories
*Credits are awarded as directed per category scoring criteria, however, for tabulating methods only, placing and entry numbers will appear on the record. The American Paint Horse Association will have final approval of all classes or events. All classes must comply with the categories that are approved by the APHA.
At the APHA’s discretion, some events may warrant credits being earned for completion only. Other criteria for earning credits may be established or amended by the Board of Directors. APHA also reserves the right to combine categories at their discretion.
# in Class | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
3-5 | 1 | |||||
6-8 | 2 | 1 | ||||
9-11 | 3 | 2 | 1 | |||
12-14 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | ||
15-17 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | |
18 or more | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
PAC Credit System for Halter Champions
PAC Credit System for NBHA Events
PAC Credit System for Dressage and Western Dressage Events
PAC Credit System for Combined Training/Eventing
PAC Credit System for Endurance
PAC Credit System for Recreational Riding
Yes, the Board of Directors have approved APHA E-Show for PAC approval. Credits are based on your placing and how many horses participate in the class.
Yes (conditionally). The virtual show MUST submit a written request prior to the show dates and be approved by APHA, and only classes that are NOT offered in APHA E-Shows will be approved for PAC credits. To view the list of PAC approved virtual shows, visit the PAC Events Calendar page.
First, you will be required to enroll your horse in the PAC program. Once you have enrolled in the PAC program, you will need to complete a PAC Exhibitor Report form found below.
To get your virtual horse show PAC approved, you need to submit the PAC Virtual Event Approval Form. Please note, APHA will not approve virtual shows that offer the same classes as APHA E-Shows.
Virtual shows that have submitted their request for PAC approval and have been approved will be posted in the PAC Events Calendar.
To get more details on upcoming APHA E-Shows, you can go to apha.com/showing/e-shows/. We also regularly post information on social media so be sure to follow APHA on Facebook and Instagram.
No, a normal, non-virtual horse show does not need to be approved for PAC—they have blanket approval. You will just need to follow standard PAC rules that can be found at the top of the PAC Forms dropdown below.
REMINDER: As of 2014, live shows are no longer required to submit a PAC event approval application. All live shows are PAC approved as long as the show results are retained for one year and classes are open/all-breed (points/credits cannot be earned from national breed/color associations such as AQHA, PtHA, ApHC, etc but can be earned from national or local discipline associations such as NSBA, USEF, USHJA, NCHA, NRHA, etc). If you manage a PAC eligible show, you are welcome to download the PAC logo below to add to your showbill and website as well as the flyer to share with your exhibitors!
All APHA E-Shows count for PAC credits! Other virtual shows must submit a written request before the show takes place for approval via the PAC Virtual Event Approval Form. To see the list of PAC approved virtual shows, visit the PAC Events Calendar page.
PAC Logo
PAC Informational Flyer (English)/(French)/(German)
ONLINE PAC Enrollment Application
ONLINE PAC Exhibitor Report form– New online form redirects to APHAOnline.org and form can be accessed with your complimentary membership account under the Bronze (My APHA) section
ONLINE PAC Recreational Riding Time Log– Redirects to APHAOnline.org and form can be accessed with your complimentary membership account under the Bronze (My APHA) section
Instructions to create your APHAOnline.org account:
If you already have a PIN/password but need to complete the online profile:
To log in as a member at aphaonline.org, please enter your membership ID number XXXXXXX and PIN/password. You will be asked to accept the terms of our site and complete your profile; you can edit the PIN and change to a password on the profile page.
If you do not have a PIN or password:
Please go to aphaonline.org and select “Forgot Password” and enter your membership ID. A message will display with icon to “Create an online Account” to proceed through the steps and set up a password and complete your profile.
PAC Credits will be recorded on the enrolled Paint’s PAC performance record and will count for PAC Lifetime and Year End Awards.
PAC Certificate of Recognition- Earned when a PAC enrolled horse earns at least 20 Credits in any one approved category. Also earned when a PAC enrolled horse earns 500 Recreational Riding hours. A certificate will be generated and sent to the horse owner.
PAC Certificate of Achievement- Earned when a PAC enrolled horse earns at least 60 Credits in any one approved category. Also earned when a PAC enrolled horse earns 1,500 Recreational Riding hours. A certificate will be generated and sent to the horse owner.
PAC Superior Achievement- Earned when a PAC enrolled horse earns 10,000 Recreational Riding hours. A certificate will be generated and sent to the horse owner.
PAC Open Versatility Champion- Earned with a PAC enrolled horse earns the PAC Certificate of Achievement in 5 different Open Categories. A certificate will be generated and sent to the horse owner in addition to a spotlight in the Paint Horse Journal and APHA Social Media.
PAC Youth Versatility Champion- Earned with a PAC enrolled horse earns the PAC Certificate of Achievement in 5 different Youth or 4-H Categories. A certificate will be generated and sent to the horse owner in addition to a spotlight in the Paint Horse Journal and APHA Social Media.
100 Hours- At each level rider will receive a completion certificate and be added to the online PAC Recreational Riding Award list
500 Hours- Certificate of Recognition in Recreational Riding
1,000 Hours
1,500 Hours- Certificate of Achievement in Recreational Riding
2,000 Hours
2,500 Hours
3,000 Hours
3,500 Hours
4,000 Hours
4,500 Hours
5,000 Hours
6,000 Hours
7,500 Hours
10,000 Hours- Superior Achievement
PAC Category Year-End Leaders- The PAC enrolled horse that earns the most credits during the calendar year in a given category and an appropriate award will be awarded to the horse’s owner for the Open division and the Youth(s) for the Youth division. A horse must have earned at least 10 credits in that category during that year to qualify. In Zones 12, 13 and 14, Year End awards will also be given to the top 5 horses in each zone accumulating ten (10) or more credits in all categories combined.
Open Six PAC Top Five- The top 5 PAC enrolled horses that earned the most credits in at least 6 different open categories. Credits for each horse will be compiled separately. All ownership and PAC requirements must be met to be eligible for these awards.
Youth Six PAC Top Five- The top 5 PAC enrolled horses that earned the most credits in at least 6 different youth categories. Credits for each horse will be compiled separately. All ownership and PAC requirements must be met to be eligible for these awards.
Six PAC Champion- The single PAC enrolled horse that places first in at least 6 different categories on the PAC Leader’s List in a single year. All ownership and PAC requirements must be met to be eligible for this award.
The APHA will determine annual awards based upon the number of credits earned while exhibiting an individual horse during the calendar year’s competition in each category. Year End Award winners earn e-gift certificates to the PH Barn Door so that you now get to choose what year end award you receive! Check out the Year End Awards Collection at the PH Barn Door to see what participants had the chance of winning in past years!
Current PAC Recreational Riding Achievement Award Earners
Current PAC Category Leader Standings
Current Six PAC Standings- OPEN
Current Six PAC Standings- YOUTH
2021 PAC Category Leaders & Six PAC Top 5
2020 PAC Category Leaders & Six PAC Top 5
2019 PAC Category Leaders & Six PAC Top 5
2018 PAC Category Leaders & Six PAC Top 5
For more information on PAC, email pac@apha.com.
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