for 2007 World Championship Paint Horse Show

FORT WORTH, Texas—Fort Worth, Texas—also known as “Cowtown”— will be transformed into a Paint Horse city when the 2007 World Championship Paint Horse Show takes place June 24-July 7 at the Will Rogers Memorial Center. More than 1,800 horses from throughout the United States, Canada and other countries are expected for the event, making it the biggest Paint Horse show anywhere on the globe.

This year’s show features new classes and offers more than $400,000 in cash and prizes. The two-week event has added Youth and Amateur hunt seat equitation over fences, gamblers choice trail and Solid Paint-Bred reining to the line-up of classes offered. While hunt seat equitation over fences and Solid Paint-Bred reining will be exciting for exhibitors in the running for respective high-point awards, gamblers choice trail is sure to get the whole crowd cheering.

Introduced at the 2006 Paint Vegas event, Gamblers Choice Trail will make its World Show debut on July 4. The event is similar to the traditional trail class with a few twists and turns to entertain both competitors and spectators. Exhibitors are required to complete as many trail obstacles as possible within a given time period, while trying to score highest on each obstacle. Horse and rider may attempt the obstacles in any order and points are awarded based on each obstacle’s level of difficulty.

Also new this year, the Exhibitor Party Fourth of July Celebration will begin at 7 p.m. and feature live entertainment, a silent auction, a great view of Fort Worth’s fireworks and an all-American meal. Tickets are $15 at the gate or $10 in advance, and can be purchased at the Horse Show Office, Information Booth and APHA Booth during the show. All proceeds will benefit the APHA Crisis Fund.

Youth, Amateur and Open competition

Youth, Amateur and professional horsemen and -women will exhibit their Paint Horses over the course of the show, demonstrating their skills in a total of 183 halter, Western, English, cattle, driving and speed classes.

The first week of competition will include Youth classes and activities, allowing youngsters to interact with friends from all over the world. The week kicks off with the American Junior Paint Horse Association (AjPHA) Year-End Awards Banquet, highlighting the association’s top competitors and service-oriented youth in the nation.

Other events offered throughout the week are the Youth Team Tournament contest, which features performance classes, parade of teams, knowledge relay and a hippology contest. Youth will also have the opportunity to participate in the AjPHA Party and Dance, National Convention, Stick Horse Contest and Judging Contest.

New for 2007, in conjunction with the AjPHA portion of the World Show, is a goat roping fund-raiser benefiting youth programs and scholarships. Since 1983, more than 170 students have been awarded 450 scholarships worth more than $448,500. The roping contest will feature Youth, Amateur and Open divisions, for those looking for something new and exciting to get involved in.

World Showcase Sale

The 2007 World Showcase Sale is the perfect opportunity for Paint Horse owners to offer their talented Paint Horses to perspective buyers. The sale will take place in the Watt Arena on Friday, July 6. The World Showcase Sale features the industry’s finest performance and halter horses, broodmares, stallions and up-and-coming prospects; and buyers who are prepared to pay top dollar. In 2006, the high-selling horse sold for $34,000, with the top 10 sales averaging more than $17,000.

New for this year, cattle will be available on request for those who wish to demonstrate the horses’ working ability. Consignment packages can be requested by calling (817) 222-6441 or emailing [email protected] . The consignment deadline for the sale is April 1.

Challenge Series

The Challenge Series, which debuted in 2000, will be back for another year of big payouts in featured classes. The series consists of the 3-Year-Old Western pleasure challenge, 3-Year-Old hunter under saddle challenge, 3-Year-Old reining challenge, 4-Year-Old cutting challenge and the 5- and 6-Year-Old cutting challenge. Exhibitors, along with their horses, will compete for cash prizes in these events.

Along with the Challenge Series, the 2007 World Championship Paint Horse Show will feature a team penning sweepstakes, freestyle reining sweepstakes and the bridleless Western pleasure sweepstakes, all during the final evening. Gamblers choice trail is also a sweepstakes class.

Colors of the West Gift Show

An exciting part of the World Championship Paint Horse Show is the shopping in the Colors of the West gift show. The gift show, located in the Amon Carter Exhibit Hall, features more than 100 vendors offering a showcase of products and services from Western and English apparel, tack, jewelry, art and furniture to a variety of other products.

Also featured at the gift show is the Colors of the West arena, which will host daily entertainment and various on-site clinics from well-known horsemen and horsewomen, and a product and fashion show with top of the line merchandise. The gift show will also feature a Kids Day with a variety of activities to keep horse-loving children of all aged entertained.  The gift show will open Saturday, June 23 at noon and continue daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

APHA sponsors continue to add support

APHA will pay out over $230,000 in cash and $170,000 in prizes at this year’s event thanks to associate, corporate and World Show sponsors. The list of corporate sponsors includes Barnmaster, Chase Bank, Gist Silversmiths, Hart Trailers, HorseCity.com, Markel Insurance, New Holland Tractors; and Pro Orthopedic.

The World Show sponsors are Blue Ribbon Saddlery, Metro Golf Cars, Paint Horse Journal; and Paint Racing News. Hodges Badge Company is a 2007 World Show association sponsors.
Convenient traveling
New this year, exhibitors can make all of their hotel arrangements online at aphaworldshow.com. APHA has partnered with the Fort Worth Convention and Visitor’s Bureau to arrange discounted room rates for APHA World Show exhibitors who book their rooms through this program. The process is simple, and allows exhibitors to see all available rooms on one site, along with rates ad hotel locations. Rooms must be booked by May 31 to receive the special APHA pricing.

More about the largest Paint Horse show on Earth
An annual non-qualifying event for registered American Paint Horses, the World Show feature 183 classes, including five challenge series classes and four sweepstakes events.

All World Show activities take place at the Will Rogers Memorial Center, an 85-acre equine complex with three air-conditioned arenas, located in the heart of Fort Worth’s cultural district.

Last year 4,524 entries on 1,738 Paint Horses competed at the world’s largest Paint Horse event.

Early class entries, as well as stall and RV reservations are due May 1, 2007. The World Show Premium Book will be available in March with a complete schedule, forms and other pertinent information regarding the show. A complete version can be downloaded in PDF format at aphaworldshow.com.
For more information about the World Show, including a complete schedule, list of accommodations, entry details and visitor information, visit aphaworldshow.com or call APHA at (817) 834-2742.

30