The American Paint Horse Association (APHA) announced at the APHA Annual Convention and Membership Meeting that the format of the World Championship Paint Horse Shows will change starting in 2011. The two-show format will remain intact, but the line dividing the two shows will be much more clear.

            The summer show will now be the AjPHA Youth World Championship Show featuring the complete lineup of youth division classes and activities, and will no longer contain any open or amateur classes. The fall show will be called the APHA World Championship Show and will feature all of the open, amateur, slot, Breeders’ Futurity and other specialty classes. Both shows will remain at the Will Rogers Equestrian Complex located in Fort Worth, Texas.

            “This is a great opportunity to showcase our vibrant youth members and youth program by holding strictly a Youth World Championship Show separate from the other divisions,” said Lex Smurthwaite, Executive Director of APHA. “And this will allow the organization to have two World Championship Shows, each with a strong focus.”

             To learn more about the APHA World Show events, visit APHAWorldShow.com or call (817) 834-APHA (2742).

More About APHA

             Currently, American Paint Horses are being registered at APHA’s Fort Worth, Texas, headquarters at a rate of more than 30,000 horses each year. APHA has registered more than 981,000 horses in 59 nations and territories since it was founded 48 years ago, and serves approximately 85,000 active members around the world. APHA, a non-profit organization, prides itself on community involvement and educating the public about the beauty and talent of the breed. Among its many activities, APHA works to preserve bloodlines and maintain the outstanding characteristics of Paint Horses. For more information, visit the Association’s Web site at apha.com or call (817) 834-APHA (2742).