Measured by nearly 1,000 horses stemming from 42 states and four foreign countries, nearly 1,950 entries, beautiful weather and plenty of extra activities, the American Paint Horse Association's first Fall World Championship Paint Horse Show is now complete.

The split format was introduced this year with the Youth World Show being the focus of the summer event, while the Open and Amateur World Show, plus the slot classes and Breeders' Futurity, were the focus of the Fall World. The expanded schedule allows all competitors to feel less overwhelmed by 16-hour show days, gives youth competitors the spotlight they deserve in the summer, allows younger horses more time to mature and be shown in the fall and gives APHA room to add more classes, clinics and fun activities throughout both summer and fall shows.

"Thanks to the support of our members, the first split-format APHA World Show established a new atmosphere of competition and camaraderie at both the Summer and the Fall venues. Now that we’ve completed the inaugural series, we look forward to being able to build numbers and support for the format as we move forward into 2010," said APHA Executive Director Lex Smurthwaite.

Numbers prior to the final audit show 973 horses were entered in competition at the Fall World Show, with a total of 1,945 entries competing in Open, Amateur, Novice Amateur, Solid Paint-Bred, Challenge, Sweepstakes, Slot and Breeders' Futurity classes that were held November 5-14 at Will Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth, TX.

Highlights
Ten days' worth of classes named 127 Open and Amateur World Champions and dispersed over $450,000 in cash and prizes. Amateur All-Around awards were presented the evening of November 10 after the new Hart Non Pro Versatility Challenge sponsored by Hart Trailers.

• All-Around Classic (19-44) Amateur
Chelsea Bain of Scottsdale, AZ, riding Sensational Blonde (Seven-year-old sorrel overo mare)
• Reserve All-Around Classic (19-44) Amateur
Casey Hicks of Williamsville, MO, riding Strait Ole Paint (Nine-year-old black tobiano stallion)
• All-Around Masters (45+) Amateur
Susan Wilson of Ramona, CA, riding Predictably Perfect (Eight-year-old sorrel overo gelding)
• Reserve All-Around Masters (45+) Amateur
Kelli Foster of Lindon, UT, riding Fleets Serenity (11-year-old sorrel overo gelding)
• All-Around Novice Amateur
Shannon Sullenberger of Piqua, OH, riding Jettn Champagne Chex (Nine-year-old red roan tobiano mare)
• Reserve All-Around Novice Amateur
Melissa Haberkorn of Cape Girardeau, MO, riding VR Knockyour Socksoff (10-year-old sorrel overo gelding)

On the Open side of things, the High-Point and All-Around awards were presented on November 14.

• All-Around Open Horse, Super Gelding & High-Point English Horse
Ill Be Sensational (Five-year-old red roan overo gelding, owned by Leroy Poignant of Lacon, IL)
• Reserve All-Around Open Horse
Hez Sirtainly Fancy (Five-year-old chestnut overo gelding, owned by Daranne Folino of Coto de Caza, CA)
• High-Point Western Horse
OSU Gold Boz (Six-year-old palomino overo stallion, owned by Randal & Melody Williams of Sulphur, OK)
• High-Point Exhibitor
Ryan Painter of Romoland, CA

Both Casey Hicks and OSU Gold Boz earned their points during the Amateur and Open cattle classes that were held after youth competition concluded at the Summer World Show. Amateur and Open reining classes were also held at that time.

Combined, the 2009 World Show series saw 2,548 Open and Amateur entries. The 973 horses entered in the Fall World Show accounted for 1,945 of those.

Large payouts were the draw for the slot and Breeders' Futurity classes, where substantial entry fees also meant large payouts. Slot class participants divided $186,250 and Breeders' Futurity payouts of $67,725 were distributed. Brittany Bevis of Aubrey, TX, rode Its All BhindThe Zipper to win the Hart "Medallion" model trailer valued at $32,000 in the Hart Non-Pro Versatility Challenge.

In addition to the competition at the Fall World Championship Show, APHA also offered shopping in the Colors of the Season Gift Show, clinics, exhibitor parties and other fun activities. Corporate sponsor Purina Mills hosted free clinics by industry leaders Clint Haverty and Lynn Palm the weekend of November 7-8.

The Fall World Championship Show was made possible in part by the support of APHA sponsors. Corporate sponsors include Chase, Gist Silversmiths, Hart Trailers, LLC, Markel Insurance Company, New Holland, Pfizer Animal Health and Purina Mills, LLC. Fall World Show sponsors include Alliance by Lynn Palm, Arena Werks, Big D, Blue Ribbon Custom Tack, Equine Sports Medicine, Hodges Badge Company, Linda Massey, Metro Golf Cars, Montgomery Photographics, Paint Horse Journal, Paint Horse Racing, Platinum Performance, Russell Feed and Supply, Video Horse World and Western Horseman.

Since APHA was founded 47 years ago, it has registered nearly one million American Paint Horses at a rate of around 35,000 horses per year. The association currently serves approximately 85,000 active members in 59 nations and territories. APHA works not only to record Paint Horse pedigrees, but also to preserve and promote the history, breeding, training, racing, showing, sales and enjoyment of American Paint Horses.

For more information about APHA and becoming a member, contact the Association at (817) 834-2742, or visit www.apha.com.