© 2011 BC Paint Horse Club
The 41st annual APHA convention was held in Vancouver, WA September 29 through October 1, 2011. It was exciting to see so many local northwest APHA members attending, many for the first time.
Youth Committee tackles “professional” debate
Thursday morning started with committee meetings so, for me, it was the youth, of which I am a director. There was much discussion about the alarming drop in youth numbers at all levels and in all aspects of APHA. While much of this is blamed on the economy, there is a general undercurrent of other problems afflicting the AjPHA. A very informative report was circulated reflecting AjPHA members who attended 2011 Pinto Worlds but did not continue on to Paint; the exhibitors reasons for non attendance will help shape how APHA and the AjPHA executive committee (EC) conduct business from here forward.
There was also much discussion on youth training and coaching for financial compensation. Although an overwhelming consensus would like to implement a rule prohibiting it, there was concern over-penalizing the wrong members of the industry (ie youth) who could not afford to compete or even own a Paint horse without working off expenses for their trainers. Currently, if sufficient proof prevails, “professional” youth have a note put in their file prohibiting amateur status when the time comes.
Many suggestions were made regarding increasing AjPHA membership: trainers, coaches and experienced youth attending 4-H functions, playdays and trail rides handing out promotional material and introducing themselves on behalf of the breed; putting on free clinics, Paint for a day events, open barn days, etc. The 2011 AjPHA is a great group of youth from all walks of the Paint Horse industry, and their enthusiasm and approachability will absolutely generate new interest in the youth programs.
2012 is a World Games year so the selection process provided good debate. Initially a tough sell in the US, 2010 saw the appointment of Pat Trebesch as coach, and more prominence within the Youth World Show structure. There will be an application form on the website for those youth interested and selection will originate there. If not enough qualified participants apply, the leading point earning youth will be selected, if they consent.
Finally, the jewel in the Youth Committee crown was the presentation of the Breeders Trust Scholarship program. While still not fully developed, it is an exciting opportunity for both youth and Breeders Trust breeders, almost certainly creating a new market for BT nominated horses and another incentive to showing Paints. To date, support has been overwhelming from all major stallion owners.
More shows hiring local judges
Thursday afternoon was the Judges Committee meeting. 2012 Academy will be February 22-26 at APHA headquarters. Topics included judges ethics as seen by exhibitors; an anti-cruelty letter from leading Quarter Horse breeder Carol Rose and the co-sponsored APHA/AQHA/ApHC judges workshop in Argentina. With the state of the economy, more breed associations are looking to merge functions – more horse shows are hiring local judges or married judges for hotel savings, or multi-carded judges.
International numbers up
General membership topics were primarily numbers based: North American registrations, memberships, transfers, number of functions had all declined. On a better note, internationally, all aspects of the industry are up. This report was the final one for APHA CEO Lex Smurthwaite who tendered his immediate resignation upon delivery. He will be missed in that capacity although staying within the organization. A search has begun to fill that position.
Rule Changes
Friday saw the vote on all rule changes that made it through workshop. Virtually all of these concerned the competition department of APHA and while they are available on the website, worthy of note:
- Youth Walk/Trot age raised [back] up to 10 years
- Exhibitors can now show five entries in a junior/senior horse combined Trail class
- Show committees can now combine two point classes without unanimous exhibitor consent
- Yearling Longeline rules now mirror NSBA.
- Stake Race now mirrors other stock breeds
- Showmanship, Equitation, Horsemanship have made off pattern/wrong side of cone/ knocking over a cone disqualifications
- Dressage - APHA Special Event at USEF, USDF
- Cowboy Mounted Shooting - APHA Special Event at CMSA
- Judges only need to do one show yearly to maintain status.
- Hunt Seat Equitation over Fences new category of its own
Ride America, PAC participation up
Finally, the convention wrapped up with reports from all committees. Although, disappointingly, the Recreational Riding meeting drew poor attendance, enrollment in Ride America was up as was enthusiasm for the program. The PAC program is stronger than ever, though there is still a great lack of information in many respects, one example being the fact that 4-H and Pony Club are automatically PAC-approved programs.
New money for regional clubs
The Regional Club Committee will be the new recipient of the discontinued Gelding Plus funds which will ultimately affect a greater number of APHA members and hopefully entice new members.
There were two main topics of all committees at this year’s convention. One was the current state of the slaughter horse industry in the U.S. and the overwhelming need for it (given the) horrific conditions of the slaughterhouses in Mexico. The other was the residual fallout from this year’s AjPHA World Show. On these notes, incoming president Scot Jackson’s acceptance speech promoted renewed good sportsmanship and ethics from this day forward and a reminder that the vast majority of APHA members are not show horse people. To continue to grow the organization, we must welcome and embrace all Paint Horse enthusiasts, remembering that this is the common bond that brought us all together in the first place.
Respectfully,
Jodie Moore
APHA director
November 2011
For other APHA convention and workshop reports, go to
www.nwcc-apha.com/nwcc/director.html
APHA director Jodie Moore
Highlights from the APHA convention in Vancouver, WA this fall …
BC Paint Horse Club member Jodie Moore is the APHA director representing Area 43 (Alaska, BC, Yukon) as well as the BCPHC’s delegate representing our interests on the boards of the Northwest Co-ordinating Committee and Zone One. One of her responsibilities as an APHA director is to attend meetings and workshops and provide us with updates.
Club representatives will be meeting in Hood River, Oregon on February 11 to consider proposed changes to the Zone One by-laws. Click on the horse icons below for more information.
ZONE ONE
Agenda/Minutes
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ZONE ONE
BYLAWS
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