The APHA Hall of Fame is gaining seven new inductees in 2021. The ceremony honoring those below will occur on February 27, 2021, during the APHA Convention in the Fort Worth Stockyards (plans subject to modification due to COVID restrictions, should the need arise). Each inductee will receive an official APHA Hall of Fame Paint Horse statue designed by artist Clay Gant of Cowboy Bronze.
Since its founding in 2012, the APHA Hall of Fame has honored the legendary people and Paint Horses that exemplify what it means to be a part of the APHA family. Whether it was through successes in the show ring or advocating for the Paint Horse across different platforms, to be inducted in the APHA Hall of Fame is an honor that a select few can claim as their own. Permanent recognition for all Hall of Fame inductees can be found at the new APHA Headquarters in the Fort Worth Stockyards.
“This year’s large class of Hall of Fame inductees represents exceptional horses and their contributions to the Paint Horse breed, along with some outstanding individuals who have left their mark on APHA,” APHA Executive Director Billy Smith said.
The honorees are:
· Durn Scooter #19,146
· Ima Gallant Jet #182,820
· RH Imprinted #395,671
· Shes Doolins Nikita #666,878
· Dr. John & Anita Hertner, Kearney, Nebraska
· Dick Sell, Solvang, California
· Wanda West, Abilene, Kansas
Durn Scooter, a 1971 sorrel tobiano stallion by Gill’s Q Ton and out of Miss Scooter, was owned by Cliff and Martha Johnson of Kansas City, Missouri. A sire of 106 foals, 23 of his offspring have show records earning 593 halter points and 2,168 performance points. Durn Scooter earned 1,524-lifetime points himself in Open and Amateur events. He collected multiple awards before his passing in 2002, including an APHA Championship, a Superior All-Around award, a Performance Versatility award, national and world championships, reserve national and world championships, nine Superiors, and 18 Registers of Merit.
Ima Gallant Jet, a 1990 chestnut overo stallion by Jetamatic and out of Hugable Dixon, was owned by Mike Holloway of Brandon, Mississippi. The sire of 182 foals, 63 generated APHA show records, and earned more than 21,000 points. Ima Gallant Jet earned 4,251-lifetime points himself along with two world championships, two Performance Versatility titles, 15 Superiors, and 30 ROMs.
RH Imprinted, a 1997 sorrel overo stallion by Socketts Imprint and out of Squeezin N Pleazin, was owned by Steven Jensen and Chad Beus of Freeland, Michigan. He earned 174-lifetime halter points and a 2001 Amateur halter world championship and Open halter world championships in 1999, 2001, and 2005. He sired 378 foals, with 142 who have performance records totally more than 16,000 APHA points, 34 world championships, and 39 reserve world championship titles.
Shes Doolins Nikita, a 2001 black tobiano mare by Doolins Hotrodder and out of Miss Conchita Bar (QH), was owned by Alena Helmcke of Appel, Germany. She earned 1,431 total points along with 14 Gold European Championships, 10 Silver European Championships, eight Bronze European Championships, two Performance Versatility titles, 12 Superiors, and 16 ROMs.
Dr. John & Anita Hertner
Both John and Anita Hertner have been longtime leaders with APHA. John was APHA president in 1996. Anita has served as a national director and as chair of committees in her leadership role for APHA. Their wisdom and enthusiasm have been vital to the association.
Dick Sell
Dick Sell was an active breeder and raised quality Paint Horses since the 1960s. Dick helped organize the Rocky Mountain Paint Stock Horse Association in Cheyenne, Wyoming. He raised the highest-selling weanling colt in APHA history at that time. A longtime APHA supporter, Dick said the association’s organization and initiatives helped create a demand for Paint Horses.
Wanda West
Beloved wife, mother, and grandmother, Wanda West was raised on a Sumner County, Kansas, farm, and loved the daily chores associated with rural life. Wanda served as an APHA National Director beginning in 1988 and was a 1990 founding member of the APHA Zone 3 committee. Wanda and her husband, Bill, raised and bred many notable Paint Horses that contributed to the history of APHA.
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Introduced in 2012, the Hall of Fame and its selection committee carry on the tradition of commemorating the breed’s colorful history with each class of legendary horses and horsemen. For more information about attending the Hall of Fame induction ceremony, contact Theresa Brown at tbrown@apha.com. Profiles of the Hall of Fame inductees will be featured in an early 2021 issue of the Paint Horse Journal.
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