FORT WORTH, Texas-The working relationship between cowboys, cowgirls and their horses will be put to the test at the American Paint Horse Association (APHA) Paint Ranch Horse Round Up, to be held Sept. 11 at Fort Robinson State Park, just west of Crawford, Nebraska.

This one-day working ranch horse competition will feature classes that will test riders and their horses in several areas of competition. They include:

" Stock Horse Pleasure-horses must walk, jog and lope smoothly and efficiently on a designated course.
" Stock Horse Versatility-horses perform some of the many tasks required of them in the course of actual ranch work. Horses may be asked by their riders to walk calmly over bridges, walk through brush, back into confined spaces, jump over obstacles, or drag hay bales, just to name a few challenges.
" Working Stock Horse-horses will demonstrate the skill and athleticism necessary to move cattle to specific areas. Roping may be performed in this class.
" Stock Horse Reining-horses must show they can be guided and ridden willingly, without resistance, in specific patterns.

Classes of competition and awards
The Paint Ranch Horse Round Up will include four divisions: Open Regular Registry, Open Breeding Stock, Amateur Regular Registry and Amateur Breeding Stock. Horses and riders who demonstrate exceptional abilities in each class and division will earn special awards, and high-point awards will also be presented. A special "head-to-head" challenge will determine a "Top Hand" in both the Open and Amateur divisions.
Custom buckles will be awarded to each division winner courtesy of Gist Silversmiths.

Entry deadline nears
If you ride an American Paint Horse and want to prove he has the versatile talents it takes to win a ranch horse title, contact APHA at (817) 834-2742. You may download an entry form at APHA's Ranch Horse Competition Web site at:

http://www.apha.com/ranchhorse/entry.html

Entry deadline is August 30.
For more information, contact Contact Cody Weirich by e-mail at cweirich@apha.com.

Fort Robinson Trail Ride
The Paint Ranch Horse Round Up will coincide with APHA's annual trail ride, to be held this year from Sept. 6-10 at Fort Robinson. The Fort Robinson ride offers breathtaking views and outstanding trails that pass through tall-grass prairies, breathtaking rock formations and Ponderosa forests. The area is rich in the history of the American West.
If you'd like to join APHA on the trail ride, contact Cody Weirich by e-mail at
cweirich@apha.com or by phone (817) 222-6439. You may also visit http://www.apha.com/trailrides/fortrob04.html for a registration form and details.

About Paints and APHA activities
Since its founding 42 years ago, APHA has registered more than 780,000 horses. The association serves more than 107,000 members around the world.
APHA employs 155 people and has an operating budget of $15 million for activities worldwide.
Among the many qualities that make Paint Horses desirable is their sound
conformation, versatile athletic ability, intelligence, calm temperament, willing disposition and beautiful coat color patterns.
Working ranch horse competition is one of the most recent events sanctioned by the association, following approval by its members last fall. It is yet another of the many programs APHA carries out to enrich members' enjoyment of their American Paint Horses. The first APHA-sponsored ranch horse competition was held in Stephenville, Texas, last May. The competition at Fort Robinson will be the association's second working ranch horse event.
For more information about the American Paint Horse, as well as APHA and its many activities, visit www.apha.com, or call (817) 834-2742, extension 788.

www.apha.com.

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