The American Paint Horse Association (APHA) has renewed its alliance with the National Snaffle Bit Association (NSBA) and will offer cash bonuses to horses competing at the NSBA World Championship Show.

APHA recently reformatted the Paint Preferred incentive program and as a result, APHA will offer up to $120,000 annually to Paint horses competing in select competitions with its alliance partners.
continue reading "US Paint Association offers cash to top snaffle horses"

by John Lewis

One of the first questions a prospective horse buyer usually asks is, “Does he have a good temperament?” It doesn’t matter whether you ride English or Western, or prefer the show ring to the trail, the ultimate pleasure is riding a horse that’s calm and obedient in addition to being athletic.

However, while riders are always quick to stress the importance of the horse’s temperament, they rarely bother to examine their own.
continue reading "When Tempers Clash: Are You and Your Horse Compatible?"

by Marcia King

There he goes again. You’ve loped just a few strides with your horse when his gait disintegrates into a stumbly, half-hearted, four-beat lope.

Instead of a fluid, three-count stride, your horse sticks that extra beat in there. It’s certainly not pretty to look at, makes for a rather “herky-jerky” ride, and just about ruins your hopes of ever showing well in any class. Your horse is a lazy loper, but is his a hopeless cause? Perhaps not.
continue reading "Correcting the Lazy Loper: Tips from AQHA horseman Alex Ross"

by Sheryl Hilton and Ronni Nordal

The fourth annual Zone 10 Northern Color Connection Paint O Rama (NCC) was held August 10 to 14, 2006 at the Red Deer Westerner Park Show arena.

The Zone 10 is formed according to geographical standards of the American Paint Horse Association (APHA) and consists of all Canadian provinces from Manitoba to British Columbia, as well as Alaska.
continue reading "Zone 10 Northern Color Connection (2006)"

by Sheryl Hilton

There was no lack of colour in Drayton Valley, AB, on the weekend of July 14, 15, and 16, 2006. The forested town west of Edmonton was the setting for the Big West Colour Classic Paint (APHA) and Appaloosa (ApHC) approved horse shows.

Competitors showed their horses to one judge, Fred Adams of Nebraska on July 14, with the day co-sponsored by the Saskatchewan Paint Horse Club. July 15 and 16 had three judges: Doug Lasota of Arizona, Rick Evans of Georgia, and Rick McMasters of Tennessee, which offered a three-point opportunity per class.
continue reading "Painting the West: The Big West Colour Classic Show 2006"

by Marcia King

In many equine classes, achieving championship status, at least partially, relies on having a costly, exceptional horse, where the dedication and skills of the rider are secondary to the quality of the horseflesh beneath.

Not so for Western horsemanship. Western horsemanship judges the rider as opposed to the horse, says Holly Hover, an AQHA judge, competitor, clinician, and Phoenix-based Youth and Amateur All Around trainer.

“The event benefits people that don’t have the opportunity to purchase the really fancy, expensive horses. It’s an event where people can practice and gain momentum through their own hard work and be awarded for efforts in the arena; it’s the rider’s skill that earns a placing in the arena.”
continue reading "The Western Horsemanship Pattern: Sewing up a Winning Performance"

by Tanya McBurney

April 21 and 22, 2006 proved to be an event well worth waiting for. David Dellin of Sanger, Texas, flew in to show us his training techniques that have helped him win three AQHA World Championships and two Congress titles.

At only 28 years of age, David Dellin has become one of the most respected and talented trainers in the industry today.

Riders taking part in the clinic were Trevor McBurney, Deserie Rieu, Pat Ross, Colton Ross, Lisa Schiestal, Darren Cornforth, Myles McLean, Trish Bracken, and Heidi Packard. All the riders came away with a better understanding of the techniques David uses to get his horses show ring ready.
continue reading "David Dellin clinic a real ‘Western pleasure’"