Go to FastAd#:
Ally Fink with Gallant Zippo

Ally Fink with Gallant Zippo

APHA photo

FORT WORTH, Texas – The future looks bright for Californians in the American Paint Horse Association, as a pair of competitors from the Golden State returned from the Will Rogers Memorial Center with respective AjPHA Youth World Championship and Reserve honors.

Ally Fink of Coronado, riding Gallant Zippo, won the All-Around Novice Youth World Championship, taking home a $1,000 scholarship, a Western trophy saddle courtesy of Blue Ribbon Custom Tack; embroidered arena bag from Big D; splint boots and bell boots from Purina; a embroidered deluxe stall bag courtesy of APHA; and a 16″ x 20″ photograph of her choice, courtesy of Larry Williams Photography.

On her heels was All-Around Novice Youth Reserve Champion Gabrielle D’Agostini of Mount Aukum, who rode Invited Only Zippen to the runner-up prizes that included a bronze trophy, courtesy of Cowboy Bronze; a saddle pad from Purina; an embroidered fleece cooler and arena bag from Big D; and an 11″ x 14″ photograph of her choice by Larry Williams Photography.

Gabrielle D'Agostini and Invited Only Zippen

Gabrielle D’Agostini and Invited Only Zippen

APHA photo

This year, the APHA joined forces with the Appaloosa Horse Club (ApHC) based in Moscow, Idaho, to hold overlapping youth events at the 85-acre WRMC complex, which housed 286 horses for APHA and another 670 for ApHC. The Appaloosa National Show was held at the same location, immediately preceding the youth events. This was the first time the two organizations collaborated on such a large scale, and a first in the industry as well.

“This combined show was a great example of how to create a win-win outcome,” said APHA Executive Director Billy Smith. “Everyone benefited.”

APHA youth, who are all members of the American Junior Paint Horse Association (AjPHA), competed in 79 World Championship classes and 12 additional specialty events like sweepstakes, challenge, introductory and fun classes over the course of the show, which began June 29 and concluded July 6. Five classes and multiple social events were offered in which youth from both APHA and ApHC could participate together with a shared love of spotted horses.

In all, APHA hosted 1,327 paid entries with exhibitors representing 39 states plus Canada. New age division breakouts in select Novice Youth classes (Hunt Seat Equitation, Hunter Under Saddle, Showmanship at Halter, Western Horsemanship and Western Pleasure) proved popular, as did recognition for Intermediate Exhibitors in 14 classes.

Also this year, $20,000 in scholarships was awarded during the AjPHA Youth World Show. Friends of the halter industry gathered $15,000 to ensure that every World Champion and Reserve World Champion at the AjPHA Youth World Show received a scholarship for their efforts. Halter World Champions were each awarded a $1,000 scholarship, while Halter Reserve World Champions each received a $500 contribution to their future education. Yet others donated to secure $1,000 scholarships for the All-Around winners in three divisions—Novice Youth, 13 & Under and 14-18.

The annual Youth Team Tournament provided an opportunity for youth to work together in teams outside of the traditional show ring. Nine teams comprised of 2 to 20 members each had fun competing for top position in YTT performance classes, hippology contest, a knowledge relay, and a parade of teams. Overall placings and teams represented were: 1) Texas Team Blue; 2) Team Oklahoma; 3) Texas Team Red; 4) Illinois Junior Paint Horse Club; 5) Missouri Junior Paint Horse Club; 6) Michigan Paint Horse Club; 7) Utah Junior Paint Horse Club; 8) Pennsylvania Paint Horse Club; 9) Team Colorado.

Entries into the AjPHA/ApHC World Championship Judging Contest were the largest since 2009 with 234 youth judgers and 56 teams. During the contest, held June 30, up-and-coming horse judgers evaluated 6 performance classes and 4 halter classes comprised of both American Paint Horses and Appaloosas. Longtime corporate partner Hart Trailers provides $500 scholarships for the highest placing junior and senior contestants. Clara Holt with the Gulf Coast Paint Horse Club won the $500 Hart scholarship in the Junior division. Chaz Rufo with the Oklahoma Paint Horse Club won the $500 Hart scholarship in the Senior division.

In all, exhibitors at the 2013 AjPHA Youth World Show vied for more than $100,000 in prizes and cash payouts, along with some $20,000 in scholarships. The support of corporate partners, World Show sponsors and donors are key to the high level of recognition that APHA provides. Awards are presented through 10th place in each World Championship class; NSBA trophies were presented in 41 classes; and Intermediate Exhibitor recognition went as deep as 5th place in 14 classes.

Ahead of the 2014 AjPHA Youth World Show, the APHA Executive Committee voted to eliminate the qualifying requirement for horses being shown at the Youth World Show, which is scheduled for June 28 through July 5 in Fort Worth, Texas.

“We anticipate that eliminating qualifying beginning at our 2014 Youth World Show will have a positive effect on entry numbers,” said APHA Executive Director Billy Smith.

MORE RESULTS: Http://ywcs.apha.com.

Leave a Comment

All fields must be filled in to leave a message.