The Virginia Paint Horse Club (VPHC) recently announced they will host the 2017 Northeast Paint Horse Championship as part of a new Colors of Spring Paint Horse show. The show will be held at the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington, Virginia, and is a new partnership with the Shenandoah Blue Ride Appaloosa Association (SBRAA) Lee Jackson Classic.

With the support of the American Paint Horse Association (APHA), the VPHC will offer Northeast Championship belt buckles and award medallions in 15 classes specifically for residents of the APHA’s Zone 7: Youth Walk-Trot Showmanship, Novice Youth Equitation, Youth Horsemanship, Youth Hunter Under Saddle, Amateur Walk-Trot Western Pleasure, Novice Amateur Western Pleasure, Amateur Showmanship, Amateur Ranch Riding, Solid Paint-Bred Amateur Walk-Trot Western Pleasure, Solid Paint-Bred Amateur Showmanship, Open Halter Mares, Open Halter Geldings, Open Hunter Under Saddle, Open Trail, and Open Western Pleasure. Additional eligibility criteria and all show information can be found on the club’s website at www.virginiapainthorseclub.org or find us on Facebook (Virginia Paint Horse Club, Virginia Junior Paint Horse Club, Color Classic Stallion Service Sale & Futurity).

Also new this year, the VPHC is offering a “Paint the Future” youth sponsorship program for new Paint Horse youth exhibitors. Thanks to generous sponsors, first time APHA youth exhibitors can attend the show at no cost! The youth must be a member of the Virginia Junior Paint Horse Club and the American Junior Paint Horse Association, but the cost of one stall, all novice youth and youth classes and all office fees will be covered by sponsors. We hope that this opportunity will encourage kids who ride registered Paint Horses to give APHA a try. Please contact us at vphconline@gmail.com with any questions about the exciting new program.

The VPHC Colors of Spring Show will also award weekend high point and reserve champions in 13 divisions, Rookie Youth and Rookie Amateur weekend high point awards, welcome baskets for new exhibitors and random prize giveaways throughout the weekend.

About the Virginia Paint Horse Club and the American Paint Horse Association

Formed in 2001, the Virginia Paint Horse Club annually has approximately 80 active members who come from Virginia, Delaware, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and South Carolina as well as Canada. This Gold Star Club of Distinction and winner of several Virginia Horse Council awards offers APHA shows in Virginia and North Carolina, the Color Classic Stallion Service Sale and Futurity Show as well as several trail rides throughout the year.

The club has an active junior club with 30 members and offers monthly conference calls, scholarships, leadership opportunities and other youth activities. Visit www.virginiapainthorseclub.org for more information about the Virginia Paint Horse Club.

The American Paint Horse Association, founded in 1962 and headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, is the registry for the American Paint Horse. In fulfillment of its mission to collect, record and preserve pedigrees of the breed, APHA recognizes and supports 111 regional and international clubs, produces championship shows, sponsors trail rides and creates and maintains programs that increase the value of American Paint Horses and enriches members’ experiences