Assisted by international regional clubs, APHA has been steadily increasing its reach around the world. Over 45 international members from 11 countries attended the International Reception held Sunday.
On Friday Australian Craig Dengate showed his horse Multiples to
a World Championship in the Amateur 3-Year-Old Mares class.
Germany, the third largest APHA membership after the U.S. and Canada, was represented by the president of the Paint Horse Club Germany, Karl-Heinz Schmidt, accompanied by Monica Hagen, Sabrina Freiberg, Peter Hoffmann, Mandy Everschann and Jessica Richter. Another German—Alena Hemlke—is spending six weeks in California riding with Premier Performance Horses.
France, with the next largest APHA membership, sent a contingent. Francois Lejour and Michel Ladouceur organized a group trip to the World Show, utilizing Irene Stamatelakys, APHA’s representative in France, as their interpreter.
Francois Lejour owns two horses—RR Morning Star and Smokin Boom—that are being ridden by Canadian Wayne Lafortune at the show. Both won their challenge classes, the 4- & 5-Year-Old Reining Challenge and the 3-Year-Old Reining Challenge, respectively.
Michel Ladouceur founded the Quebec Paint Horse Association, exports many horses in Europe, and coaches French riders at the European Championships.
Also attending the show from France are Felix Lejour, Sandra Sahl, Anne-Francoise Goffin, Jean-Luc Hennebert, Aurelien Deville, Emmanuel Dodart and Florence Perriaux. Many are here to accompany horses they had purchased in the U.S. back to France.
Craig Dengate, part of the 11-member Australia group, has been a fixture at the World Show for several years. This year he won the Amateur 3-Year-Old Mares class with his horse Multiples and was the Amateur Solid Paint-Bred Yearling Mares class Reserve World Champion with Touchdown Hope. Other Australian members attending include LeeAnn and Jeffrey Hall, Paul Kahlefedt, Karen Lonski, Fred Burton, Carolyn Ferris, Richard, Cynthia, Jack and Noah Williams.
Jukka Kivela from Finland purchased the top-selling horse at the APHA Breeders’ Trust Select Sale. Just Say Jose, a 2000 sorrel overo stallion, is an accomplished Western Pleasure horse and sire of World Show horses.
Mexico is also well represented—Jorge Zorrilla purchased a 2011 colt at the Breeders’ Trust Select Sale. Manuel Mora Rojas brought five horses to compete in the halter and Breeders’ Futurity halter classes. Other members attending include Diego Rodriguez, Manuel Mora Rojas, Andre Garcia and Omar Mores.
Canada sent nine exhibitors and 12 owners. Results at press time include two Reserve World Championships earned by Chipped After Dark, exhibited by Carrie Ann Dregischan of Ontario; a fifth and fourth in the Senior Barrels and Stake Race by Smokes Remedy, shown by Mary-Ann Bach from Manitoba; a third place in the Amateur Goat Tying by Paraguns Tuff Kid, shown by Randi McCook of Alberta; and finalist Naturally A Dancer in the Masters Amateur Senior Hunter Under Saddle with Marcy Brown of Ontario.
Representing the Netherlands is Krymsun N Gold, owned and exhibited by Rachelle Reugebrink. The duo placed fourth in the Amateur Solid Paint-Bred Western Pleasure and sixth in the Amateur Solid Paint-Bred Showmanship. Another Dutch visitor is Hans Silivus.
Brazilians Diego Rodroquez Quijano and Jouls Eduardo Auler, Carine Monnard from Belgium and Fabienne Chomarat from Switzerland are also enjoying Texas.
To find out more about what is going on internationally at APHA, be sure to visit the International website at http://international.apha.com.