2016 Southeast Paint Horse Championship a Repeat Success

[source: APHA.com]

The Southeast Paint Horse Championship returned with a bang in 2016, taking place at the Zone 9 Southern Classic February 19–21 in Jacksonville, Florida. With a full complement of classes, exhibitors participated in a variety of Youth, Amateur and Open classes for expanded recognition.

“Our club was honored to be hosting, and we had record turnout for the Zone 9 Championship Show. It was a lot of fun; the atmosphere and the camaraderie is always what gets me at these bigger shows,” Florida Paint Horse Club Show Secretary Liza Houghton said. “We have been gaining a lot of new faces thanks to the Paint Horse Championship. A lot of people came in to compete in the 2015 Southeast Paint Horse Championship show, and they’re still driving great distances to come to our regular shows.”

Though Zone show classes were open to all, the Southeast Championship classes were limited to those exhibitors and owners within Zone 9: Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. Horses and exhibitors could not have placed in the Top Five in halter or Top 10 in performance at the APHA or AjPHA World Championship Shows in the past five years. For more information on eligibility requirements, head over to apha.com/news-landing/news-details/paint-horse-championships-return-in-2016. 

The goal of the Paint Horse Championship series is to celebrate the success of more individuals who might not have the opportunity to travel to the World Shows and to increase local show participation. APHA provides the awards for the Paint Horse Championship classes, along with up to $3,500 for additional awards for Zone classes. Paint Horse Championship class winners receive a custom Gist Silversmiths belt buckle, and second- through sixth-place exhibitors receive medallions. 

Unofficial results from the Southeast Paint Horse Championship are:

• Amateur Mares: FF Envious, owned and exhibited by Woody Wright

• Amateur Geldings: All In Blue, owned and exhibited by Haley Cunningham

• Youth Showmanship 18 & Under: Call Me Steve O, owned and exhibited by Matthew R. Winter

• Amateur Showmanship: Just Roll With It, owned and exhibited by Samantha Wurch

• Open Hunter Under Saddle: Charismatic Reflection, owned and exhibited by Ashle Steffenhagen

• Youth Hunter Under Saddle 18 & Under: A Malibu Barbie, owned by Gindy Gattis Wiggins and exhibited by Lacey Spinks Shelhorn

• Amateur Hunter Under Saddle: Just Roll With It, owned and exhibited by Samantha Wurch

• Youth Hunt-Seat Equitation18 & Under: Monaseagle, owned and exhibited by Abigail Bedson

• Amateur Hunt-Seat Equitation: Charismatic Reflection, owned and exhibited by Ashle Steffenhagen

• Open Trail: My Special Alabi, owned by Christine and Donald Schreiner Jr. and exhibited by Cynthia Mergaert

• Open Western Pleasure: Invitation To Ride, owned by Linda Lyons and exhibited by David Kirk

• Youth Western Pleasure 18 & Under: Call Me Steve O, owned and exhibited by Matthew R. Winter

• Amateur Western Pleasure: Invited Sensation, owned and exhibited by Donna Matarazzo

• Youth Horsemanship 18 & Under: Radically Deputized, owned and exhibited by Lila Jane Owens

• Amateur Horsemanship: Know Kiddin, owned and exhibited by Tamara B. Templeton