The Southeast Paint Horse Championship returned with a bang in 2016, taking place at the Zone 9 Southern Classic February 19–21 in Jacksonville, Florida. With a full complement of classes, exhibitors participated in a variety of Youth, Amateur and Open classes for expanded recognition.

“Our club was honored to be hosting, and we had record turnout for the Zone 9 Championship Show. It was a lot of fun; the atmosphere and the camaraderie is always what gets me at these bigger shows,” Florida Paint Horse Club Show Secretary Liza Houghton said. “We have been gaining a lot of new faces thanks to the Paint Horse Championship. A lot of people came in to compete in the 2015 Southeast Paint Horse Championship show, and they’re still driving great distances to come to our regular shows.”

Though Zone show classes were open to all, the Southeast Championship classes were limited to those exhibitors and owners within Zone 9: Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. Horses and exhibitors could not have placed in the Top Five in halter or Top 10 in performance at the APHA or AjPHA World Championship Shows in the past five years. For more information on eligibility requirements, head over to apha.com/news-landing/news-details/paint-horse-championships-return-in-2016.

The goal of the Paint Horse Championship series is to celebrate the success of more individuals who might not have the opportunity to travel to the World Shows and to increase local show participation. APHA provides the awards for the Paint Horse Championship classes, along with up to $3,500 for additional awards for Zone classes. Paint Horse Championship class winners receive a custom Gist Silversmiths belt buckle, and second- through sixth-place exhibitors receive medallions.

Unofficial results from the Southeast Paint Horse Championship are:

• Amateur Mares: FF Envious, owned and exhibited by Woody Wright
• Amateur Geldings: Oh How He Loves Us So, exhibited by Charles Self, leased by Ethan Self
• Youth Showmanship 18 & Under: ​Miss Blonde Bombshell, owned and exhibited by ​Jordan Olson
• Amateur Showmanship: Just Roll With It, owned and exhibited by Samantha Wurch
• Open Hunter Under Saddle: Neat Sensation, exhibited by Brian Isbell, owned by Isabella Hehr
• Youth Hunter Under Saddle 18 & Under: A Malibu Barbie, owned and exhibited by Lacey Spinks Shelhorn
• Amateur Hunter Under Saddle: Shes Almost Too Fancy, owned and exhibited by Ashley Enoch-Scott
• Youth Hunt-Seat Equitation18 & Under: Radically Deputized, owned and exhibited by Lila Jane Owens
• Amateur Hunt-Seat Equitation: Charismatic Reflection, owned and exhibited by Ashle Steffenhagen
• Open Trail: My Special Alabi, owned by Christine and Donald Schreiner Jr. and exhibited by Cynthia Mergaert
• Open Western Pleasure: Surely Im Good, exhibited by Cynthia Mergaert, owned by Jodie Thomas
• Youth Western Pleasure 18 & Under: Call Me Steve O, owned and exhibited by Matthew R. Winter
• Amateur Western Pleasure: Sheza Dancin Machine, owned and exhibited by Kelly Platt
• Youth Horsemanship 18 & Under: Radically Deputized, owned and exhibited by Lila Jane Owens
• Amateur Horsemanship: Pure Royal Heat, owned and exhibited by Margaret Nipper

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[Reprinting all or part of this news release is permitted, so long as credit is given to the Paint Horse Journal and a link provided to apha.com.]

 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.