Page 180 - April 2017

PAINTING THE FUTURE The 2017 APHA Convention has everyone looking to what lies ahead for Paint Horses. by Jessica Hein • photos courtesy APHA
The American Paint Horse Association recently held its annual membership meet- ing, also known the “APHA Convention,” in Irving, Texas. Members from all over the country came to the event, which ran from Feb. 24-27, to participate in the various rule change discussions so as to guide the Paint Horse breed in a positive direction. Every member is encour- aged to attend the annual event, so they can join in on the business meetings, fun social events, field trips, educational seminars and more.
Looking Back
The convention opened with the General Membership meeting on Feb. 24; guest speak- ers included representatives from the American Horse Council, social media phenomenon Chad Prather, board members of the American Paint Horse Foundation, and incoming AjPHA President MacKenzie Chapman. APHA Executive Director Billy Smith presented his annual State of the Association address, which detailed the strides the Association has taken over the past year and where we’re going. Among the news reported were the following:
• Total new registrations were up in 2016, increasing 1.4% over 2015. This included a growth of almost 5.5% in the number of horses registered online.
• Genetic testing is on the rise. Last year, 515 genetic health panel tests were purchased, growth of 57% over 2015. Also, 175 color/ pattern panel tests were purchased in 2016, an increase of 41%. More than 100 comprehen- sive panel tests have been ordered or completed through new partner, Etalon Diagnostics.
• The number of APHA-approved shows increased to 1,224 approved events, growth of 5.25% over 2015.
• Solid Paint-Bred and Amateur Walk-Trot entries were up. Entries in all three solid Paint-bred divi- sions increased in 2016: Open was up 15.63%, Amateur was up 21.9% and Youth was up 32.54%. Amateur Walk-Trot entries grew 5.75%.
• APHA’s Ram Paint Barrel Racing Incentive Program is still rocketing upward, providing incentives for Paint-riding barrel racers to get involved with APHA. Now in its fourth year, PBRIP hosted 124 events in 2016, growth of almost 70% over 2015. Enrollments grew by more than 11% to 567 last year, and the program paid out $60,661—an almost 15% increase.
• Chrome was crowned “Best Magazine” in 2016 by American Horse Publications and Livestock Publications Council.
• Chrome & Paint Horse Journal both earned top honors in American Horse Publications and Livestock Publications Council contests, along with APEX Awards of Excellence. And the Paint Horse Journal won a prestigious Folio “Ozzie” award against all-comers in a national publications contest.
The association’s new branding and mission statement were also discussed. The revised mission statement is more concise and easier to understand, and it clearly explains the mission of APHA:
“We inspire, nurture, promote and provide meaningful experiences to generations interested in preserving the versatile Paint Horse.”
Passing On The Wisdom
The APHA Convention is known for its dedication to education and continued learn- ing opportunities. This year’s schedule was no different, and attendees had the opportunity to attend several free seminars during the four-day event.
First up was “Creating the Paint Horse Experience,” a panel discussion about ways to develop show participation through innovative ideas, fostering a welcoming atmosphere, and ways to attract new entries. Panelists included Sandy Jirkovsky, Carolyn Dobbins, Diane Gage, Mike Hachtel, MacKenzie Chapman, and Anna Lia Sullivan. Through the format
of Question and Answer, the panelists and
the audience were able to share ideas that everyone could take back to their home clubs. The American Paint Horse Foundation also hosted a planned giving seminar, featuring expertise from professionals at the North Texas Community Foundation.
The popular Game Plan seminar, led by APHA Director of Judges and NSBA Past President David Dellin and APHA Judges Committee Chairman David Denniston, returned as well. The dynamic duo started by breaking down the intricacies of showman-
ship and then moved on to rail classes. Also mentioned was APHA’s interactive learning platform, Horse IQ, where competitors can view real video clips, mock classes and test their skills against the real judges’ cards. For more informa- tion on Horse IQ, visit aphahorseiq.com.
Dr. Samantha Brooks of the University of Florida shared insight into Paint Horse genetics and how smart breeding decisions can help keep color on coats.
On Sunday, members were given the treat of listening to Dr. Samantha Brooks, an assistant professor and geneticist from the University of Florida, as she helped shed light on Paint genet- ics. After describing basic inheritance and the common genes at play in Paint Horses, Samantha applied the information with real-world examples and shared trends she’s been analyzing in an APHA-provided sample set. DNA and genetic test results, she says, takes pedigree analysis to a whole new level to make the best breeding crosses you can, given your priorities.
Changing The Rules
One of the most highly anticipated parts of the APHA Convention were the rule change proposals submitted for consideration by APHA’s advisory committees and Board of Directors. Individual committees discussed applicable rule change proposals and voted to advance or table the proposals. If advanced, the proposals moved to the Board of Directors for voting on Feb. 27.
During these discussions, select committees also included APHA’s Youth members to par- ticipate. In doing so, the Youth members were able to see what is involved in the rule-change process and learn how these rule changes would affect them. Committee members were also able to learn from the Youth members through their opinions and were able to take their assessments into account when deciding on the rule changes.
Twenty-four proposals made it out of committee and were carefully considered by the voting Board of Directors—elected by their peers as the association’s governing body. All but one of the proposals, rule SC-200-3,
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