Inaugural Northeast Paint Horse Championship Recap

PHJ press release by: Jessica Hein

Designed to showcase talented Paint Horses, attract new exhibitors and provide additional incentives for longtime competitors within the zone, the inaugural Northeast Paint Horse Championship did all that and more August 9-10.

Taking place in conjunction with the Northeast Connection Zone 7 Zone-O-Rama, a well-established Paint Horse show that was one of the Top 20 competitions in the country in 2013, the Northeast Paint Horse Championship featured a select slate of 17 classes designed to recognize and reward exhibitors who reside in the northeastern United States. Championship classes were selected by the Zone 7 show based on popularity in the region.

To be eligible for the Northeast Championship classes, exhibitors and the horses’ owners were required to live in Zone 7—Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia and West Virginia—and be current APHA members. Also, neither horse nor exhibitor may have placed in the Top 10 of a halter or performance class at the APHA World Championship Show within the last five years.

Northeast champions received beautiful custom Gist Silversmiths trophy buckles, and medallions were awarded to second- through 10th-place exhibitors. Awards were sponsored by APHA.

Alison Umberger, a member of the Northeast Paint Horse Championship committee and APHA national director, says the championship format was a hit.

“I was very happy with the inaugural Northeast Championship classes,” she said. “Interest in the classes grew throughout the weekend, and they provided a great showcase for the talented horses and riders of Zone 7. It was wonderful to see so many proud, smiling faces showing off their championship buckles around the show grounds.”

The Northeast Paint Horse Championship was one of two pilot events taking place in 2014; the second event, the Northwest Paint Horse Championship, takes place August 15-17 in Albany, Oregon.

“I would like to thank APHA for allowing Zone 7 to pilot the Northeast Championship concept this year,” Alison said. “I think these championship classes are a great complement to a zone show and hope to see the program continue and expand.”

Grace Murtagh, an AjPHA exhibitor from Canton, Massachusetts, took part in the inaugural Northeast Paint Horse Championship event.

“I absolutely loved the idea of the classes. It was such a nice idea and an awesome experience. My horse, My Zippers Dirty, and I won a buckle, and I am so thrilled about it,” she said. “Thank you for doing these classes and this whole championship. It means a lot to me and the other residents who were able to compete for the championship buckles. Overall I would say the Northeast Championship was an incredible experience and a complete success!”

Unofficial results of the inaugural Northeast Paint Horse Championship are as follows:

Open Halter Mares, All Ages—Her Style Is Blue, exhibited by Adina Barnett, owned by Clint Walker and Adina Barnett

Open Halter Geldings, All Ages—Blacklist (pictured right), exhibited and owned by Dale Brelsford

Amateur Halter Mares, All Ages—Her Style Is Blue, exhibited by Adina Barnett, owned by Clint Walker and Adina Barnett

Amateur Halter Geldings, All Ages—Blacklist, exhibited and owned by Dale Brelsford

Youth Halter Mares, All Ages—My Zippers Dirty (pictured right), exhibited by Grace Murtagh, owned by Trish Leahy-Murtagh

Youth Halter Geldings, All Ages—The Big Maneuver, owned and exhibited by Sydney Schmidt

Open Western Pleasure—Instinctively Dirty, exhibited by Marty Dixon, owned by Jeannie Lipphard

Open Hunter Under Saddle—Totall Darkness, exhibited by Erin Fick, owned by Carla Perri

Open Trail—Dun Hot Roddin, exhibited by Emily Corbitt, owned by Claire Silver

Amateur Western Pleasure—Sudenly Sophisticated, exhibited by Adam Deardorff, owned by Carol Staub

Amateur Western Horsemanship—Sudenly Sophisticated, exhibited by Adam Deardorff, owned by Carol Staub

Amateur Hunter Under Saddle—All Rights Reserved, exhibited by Brandy Barniak, owned by Julie and Brandy Barniak

Amateur Hunt-Seat Equitation—Back In Luv, exhibited and owned by Danielle Mangamaro

Youth Western Pleasure—Your Invited Too, exhibited and owned by Madison Messick

Youth Western Horsemanship—Your Invited Too, exhibited and owned by Madison Messick

Youth Hunter Under Saddle—Krymsunized, exhibited and owned by Kylee John

Youth Hunt-Seat Equitation—Krymsunized, exhibited and owned by Kylee John