Arizona Year-End Paint Horse Bash is Back and Better Than Ever!
The fun began on Saturday with an exhibitors’ pre-show dinner. Photo courtesy of AZPHC.
By: Brittany Bevis
For more than 30 years, the Arizona Paint Horse Club’s annual year-end Paint-O-Rama was the place to be for competitors hoping to snag those last few precious points needed to clinch APHA Top 20 and Honor Roll titles. Die-hard Paint Horse enthusiasts will remember that many a hard-fought battle for year-end titles came down to the last second during nighttime classes held in Tucson.
In 2011, we received the sad news that after a successful 30-year run, the Arizona Paint-O-Rama was to be cancelled. Although the event was replaced by two separate Paint-O-Ramas to be held during different times throughout the year, the Arizona Spring Fling and the Arizona Harvest of Color, it just wasn’t the same. Breaking ground as one of the first horse shows to utilize the Paint-O-Rama format, what was fondly called by many as simply “the Tucson show” still lingers in our memories.
This year, in celebration of the Arizona Paint Horse Club’s 50 year anniversary, a new Arizona show was listed on the 2013 show schedule, with a familiar name but a different location. The 2013/2014 Arizona Copper County Paint-O-Ramas began yesterday at WestWorld in Scottsdale with over 275 stalls reserved and counting. The first Paint-O-Rama continues through Dec. 31st with judges Sandy Curl, Sally Jo Freund, Trisha Shorten Armstrong, and Teresa Sullivan officiating. Kicking off the New Year in style for an additional Paint-O-Rama to be held Jan. 1-3 will be judges Tom Crowley, Marty Jo Hays, Ann Jones, and Chris Arnold.
Today’s Junior Western Pleasure class at the Arizona Paint-O-Rama. Image provided by AZPHC.
In addition to eight judges, cash payouts, and a flat rate fee, there are plenty of exhibitors’ dinners, fun contests, prize giveaways, and the always popular New Year’s Eve bash to entertain competitors. The fun began on Saturday evening with a pre-show exhibitors’ dinner that was generously sponsored by Ray’s Pizza of Scottsdale, Wildes Show Horses, Sundancer Stables, Show Me Again Show Clothes, Kemper Ranch and Crane Rental, and Duke Performance Horses. Also on move-in day, competitors had the chance to attend a Showing To Win Clinic with Michelle Pearson. The clinic hosted a one-hour question and answer session and a three-hour riding session where Pearson discussed and demonstrated strategies and showing techniques for hunter under saddle. 50% of the clinic proceeds will go to the Arizona Paint Horse Club.
The Stallion Service Auction Line-up. Photo courtesy of AZPHC.
As always, the “mane” event will take place on New Year’s Eve/New Year’s Day. Three special prize baskets are set to be raffled off on Dec. 31st during the chili cook-off. The baskets including items such as gift cards, Equine Chronicle magazine subscriptions, and EquiFUSE grooming products. A Freestyle Costume Showmanship class is scheduled to take place during the show’s lunch break on January 1st. Entry is free and all proceeds will go to the “Tough Enough To Wear Pink” breast cancer research and awareness charity. If more than six people enter the class, a rough out saddle will be awarded to the winner! For more information and to sign up, contact Cyndee Bognar at 480-747-5601. The deadline is 5:00 pm on New Year’s Eve.
Taking place on New Year’s Eve will be the Mare Owner’s Halter Futurity and the Stallion Service Auction and Futurity. There are 42 fabulous stallions in the Stallion Service Auction line-up. Please stop by the booth to bid today, because the auction will conclude during New Year’s Eve festivities on Tuesday night at 9:00 pm.
On New Year’s Day, yearling halter horses will have the chance to compete for over $3,000 in added money in the All Breed Yearling Elite Halter Futurity. Other specialty competitions and awards like the Ultimate Horse Awards, which will include Bob’s saddles; High Point awards; Walk Trot award; the Joses Outlaw Memorial Award and the Solid Paint Bred Yearling High Point award will be presented throughout the duration of the show.
Stay tuned to EquineChronicle.com for more updates throughout the show and for candid photos coming courtesy of the official show photographer, Magic Look Photography.
A nice Senior Western Pleasure class in the Arizona sunshine. Image courtesy of Mike Fester.
Click here to view a showbill.
Click here for the December pattern book.
Click here for the January pattern book.
Click here for more information about the show on the AZPHC website.
If you have any fun, old photos from your time spent at the year-end Paint Horse show in Tucson, we’d love to see them. Also, if you are currently at the 2013-2014, we’d like to receive your photos as well. Send your photos to b.bevis@equinechronicle.com and you might see them featured on our website or Facebook page.
