APHA’s new Paint Horse Championship series has been making waves across the United States and Canada as a fun way to attract new exhibitors and reward loyalists—now, we’re adding Europe into the mix, too. The inaugural EuroPaint Zone Championship brings the action to Zone 12, taking place August 23–29 in Kreuth, Germany.
The championship is scheduled in conjunction with the European Paint Horse Championship, the largest international APHA-approved show outside of North America; in 2014, it was APHA’s No. 2 show in the world by entries.
APHA will sponsor the EuroPaint Zone Championship class awards for up to 15 specially selected classes. Winners will receive a Gist Silversmiths buckle, and 2nd–5th will receive medallions in each class.
“We think that the new Zone Championship program will attract more exhibitors who were afraid to compete against the ‘big ones’ in the past. Many people here wonder if they are good enough for APHA classes, and so now they see a chance to be honored, too,” said Isabell Weber-Elsner, vice-president of Paint Horse Club Germany.
The European Paint Horse Championship show managers have identified a slate of championship classes for their exhibitors. These classes will take place concurrently with their corresponding class at the show. They are:
• Amateur Solid Paint-Bred Hunter Under Saddle
• Amateur Solid Paint-Bred Showmanship
• Amateur Senior Western Pleasure
• Amateur Western Horsemanship
• Amateur Showmanship
• Solid Paint-Bred Junior Hunter Under Saddle
• Solid Paint-Bred Junior Western Pleasure
• Tobiano Color
• Junior Western Pleasure
• Senior Trail
• Youth Solid Paint-Bred Showmanship
• Youth Solid Paint-Bred Hunter Under Saddle
• Youth Western Pleasure
• Youth Showmanship
• Youth Western Horsemanship
“We’re very excited to bring the Paint Horse Championship series to Europe. Between cost of flying a horse to the U.S. and quarantine requirements, most Europeans will never be able to compete in Texas with their beloved Paint. The chance to win buckles and medallions in some of the largest classes, sponsored by the APHA, means the world to them,” APHA Director of International Membership Irene Stamatelakys said.
Exhibitors must meet eligibility requirements, outlined below, to participate in the EuroPaint Zone Championship classes:
Exhibitor Eligibility
• Exhibitors must reside in the Zone per APHA records and be a current member of APHA.
• Halter classes: An exhibitor who has earned a medal in a halter class at the European Paint Horse Championships in the PAST THREE (3) YEARS (2012–2014) is NOT eligible to compete in any Zone Paint Horse Championship halter class in any division with a horse of the same sex. Example: Susie was a bronze medalist at the 2014 European Paint Horse Championship in Youth Geldings. Susie is NOT eligible to compete in the Zone Paint Horse Championship geldings halter class in the Open, Amateur or Youth divisions.
• Performance classes: An exhibitor who has earned a medal in a performance class at the European Paint Horse Championship in the PAST THREE (3) YEARS (2012–2014) is NOT eligible to compete in any Zone Paint Horse Championship performance class in any division involving the same class.
Example: John won a silver medal at the 2012 European Paint Horse Championship in Amateur Horsemanship. John is NOT eligible to compete in any Zone Paint Horse Championship horsemanship class.
EXCEPTIONS:
• Amateur/Youth Walk-Trot and Novice Amateur/Novice Youth placings and placings in non-pointed European Paint Horse Championship classes, such as futurities, do not impact eligibility in regular division championship classes.
• Amateur/Youth Walk-Trot placings do count towards exhibitor eligibility criteria in Amateur/Youth Walk-Trot Zone Paint Horse Championship classes.
• Novice Amateur/Novice Youth European Paint Horse Championship placings do count towards exhibitor eligibility criteria in Novice Amateur/Youth Zone Paint Horse Championship classes
Horse Eligibility
• Horses must be owned/leased by a resident of the Zone per APHA records. Owner(s)/lessee(s) must be current members of the APHA.
• Halter classes: A horse that has earned a medal in a halter class at the European Paint Horse Championship in the PAST THREE (3) YEARS (2012–2014) is NOT eligible to compete in any Zone Paint Horse Championship halter class regardless of division. Example: Zip placed third in Open Geldings at the European Paint Horse Championship. Zip is NOT eligible to compete in any Zone Paint Horse Championship gelding halter classes with any exhibitor.
• Performance classes: A horse that has earned a medal in a performance class at the European Paint Horse Championship in the PAST THREE (3) YEARS (2012–2014) is NOT eligible to compete in any division of the same class at the Zone Paint Horse Championship Show.
Example: Trigger won a gold medal in Green Western Pleasure at the 2013 European Paint Horse Championship. Trigger is NOT eligible to compete in any Zone Paint Horse Championship Western pleasure classes with any exhibitor.
EXCEPTIONS:
• Solid Paint-Bred classes: A solid Paint-bred horse that has earned a medal in a performance class at the European Paint Horse Championship in the PAST THREE (3) YEARS (2012-2014) is NOT eligible to compete in any division of the same class at the Zone Paint Horse Championship show.
• Amateur/Youth Walk-Trot and Novice Amateur/Novice Youth placings and placings in non-pointed European Paint Horse Championship classes, such as futurities, do not impact eligibility.
• Novice Amateur/Novice Youth and Amateur/Youth Walk-Trot championship classes are exempt from horse eligibility requirements, except that they must be owned by a resident of the Zone per APHA records.
