connecting members of the american paint horse - APHAOnline.org

A NEW QUALIFICATION SYSTEM FOR
APHA WORLD SHOWS WILL ATTRACT MORE
PEOPLE TO REGIONAL CLUBS.
PHA’s World Shows are where the “best of the best”
come together to compete for a coveted world title.
In the past, anyone could participate, but starting in
2012 qualifi cation will be required for these elite shows.
At the APHA Workshop in 2010, the Executive Committee
approved a participation-based qualifi cation system for
horses only to compete in the association’s World Shows.
Intended to support regional clubs by encouraging participation
at local events, the qualifi cation period is April 1, 2011,
to March 31, 2012, for the 2012 AjPHA Youth World Championship
Show and August 1, 2011, to July 31, 2012, for the
2012 APHA Open and Amateur World Championship Show.
“Regional clubs are the heart of the APHA, and support
of these grassroots clubs is vital to the growth of the Paint
Horse industry,” APHA Senior Director of Show & Contest
Holly Nelson said.
Unlike the American Quarter Horse Association’s World
Show qualifi cation, no points need to be accumulated to participate
in the APHA World Shows. Instead, horses simply
have to be exhibited in APHA-approved horse shows
to qualify.
“At no time will the number of points or lack thereof be
considered for qualifi cation,” Nelson said. “Participation at
APHA-approved shows is the only basis for qualifying.”
28 SUMMER 2011 • PAINT HORSE CONNECTION
QUALIFICATION CRITERIA
All registered Paint Horses—Regular Registry and Solid
Paint-Bred—must qualify to participate at the World Championship
Paint Horse Shows, beginning with the 2012 events.
Although exhibitors don’t need to qualify, all horse owners
must be APHA members at the time of the show in order for
it to count towards qualifi cation requirements.
“In order to qualify to compete at any World Show, all
horses must compete at four different APHA-approved show
events with a minimum of eight total judges during the qualifying
period,” Nelson said. “Horses can be shown in any state,
regardless of residency, to qualify. Participation is the key.”
SHOW ACTIVITY
No single show activity can create more than two show
events at any given time, Nelson says. For example:
• A two-day, two-judge show on a Saturday and Sunday
counts as one show event.
• Two back-to-back two-judge shows count as two events
total.
• A four-judge Paint-O-Rama counts as one show event.
• Two back-to-back four-judge Paint-O-Ramas count as
two show events.
• A four-judge Paint-O-Rama back-to-back with a fourjudge
Paint-O-Rama back-to-back with a two-judge special
event counts as a maximum of two show events.
• In all cases, the total number of judges may be
counted towards the minimum judge requirement.
In addition, APHA special events
count toward qualifi cation requirements.
However, Paint Alternative Competition-approved
events do not count, and
nor do the World Shows.
Horses are not required to qualify in
specifi c events in any division, Nelson adds.
“Any qualifi ed horse may be shown in
any class at the World Shows in any