APHA’s innovative new championship show series kicked off 2015 with the inaugural Southeast Paint Horse Championship, which took place February 14-16 in Jacksonville, Florida.

Taking place in conjunction with the Zone 9 Southern Classic and hosted by the Florida Paint Horse Club, the Southeast Paint Horse Championship featured 15 classes selected by show management designed to recognize and reward exhibitors who reside in the Southeastern United States.

To be eligible for the Southeast Championship classes, exhibitors and the horses’ owners had to be current APHA members residing in Zone 9, which includes Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and the Caribbean Islands. Additionally, horses and exhibitors could not have placed in the Top Five or Top 10 of the same discipline at the APHA or AjPHA World Championship Shows in the past three years—read the full eligibility requirements here.

Winners of the Southeast Championship classes received beautiful custom Gist Silversmiths trophy buckles; medallions were presented to second- through tenth-place exhibitors. The awards for the 15 Southeast Paint Horse Championship classes were sponsored by APHA.

Unofficial results for the Southeastern Paint Horse Championship are as follows:

–       Amateur Halter Mares: Radically Mezmerized, exhibited and owned by Colleen Anfinson

–       Open Halter Mares: Radically Mezmerized, exhibited and owned by Colleen Anfinson

–       Amateur Halter Geldings: Hot Cabana Boy, exhibited and owned by Jackqueline Fleck

–       Open Halter Geldings: Call Back, exhibited and owned by Djuana Mai

–       Youth Hunter Under Saddle: Exotic Chip, exhibited and owned by Gracie Thompson

–       Amateur Hunter Under Saddle: TVR Fanciful Art, exhibited and owned by Terry Giles

–       Open Hunter Under Saddle: TVR Fanciful Art, exhibited by Ann Turner, owned by Terry Giles

–       Youth Hunt-Seat Equitation: Harley Sensation, exhibited and owned by Adrienne Dubravec

–       Amateur Hunt-Seat Equitation: Sum Hot Invitation, exhibited and owned by Lindsey Morris

–       Youth Horsemanship: My Special Alabi, exhibited by Katie White, owned by Bethany White

–       Amateur Horsemanship: Sum Hot Invitation, exhibited and owned by Lindsey Morris

–       Youth Western Pleasure: The Cajun Cowgirl, exhibited and owned by Lila Jane Owens

–       Amateur Western Pleasure: Surely Im Good, exhibited and leased by Margaret Nipper

–       Open Western Pleasure: Surely Im Good, exhibited by Cynthia Mergaert, leased by Margaret Nipper

–       Open Trail: Surely Im Good, exhibited by Cynthia Mergaert, leased by Margaret Nipper

 About APHA

The American Paint Horse Association is the world’s second-largest international equine breed association, registering more than a million horses in 59 nations and territories since it was founded. APHA creates and maintains programs that increase the value of American Paint Horses and enriches members’ experiences with their horses. For more information visit www.APHA.com.