Drastic Overhaul to Appaloosa Horse Club Show System Showing Positive Results With 10% Increase

MOSCOW, Idaho— The Appaloosa Horse Club (ApHC) is thrilled to announce that a newly revised show system introduced in January of 2016 has proven successful for the first half of the year. The ApHC Board of Directors made history when the drastic changes were voted and passed effective for the 2016 show season at the March 2015 ApHC Board of Directors Spring Meeting. ApHC is pleased to announce a nearly 10% increase in overall entries, judges and ApHC-approved regional shows.

The drastic overhaul to the show system was approved after more than a year of in-depth data analysis and focused strategic planning. Special ad hoc committees reviewed data and industry trends to suggest beneficial changes. The driving force behind the new system was de-regulation. The goal was to stimulate the marketplace by providing more power to regional clubs which ultimately would make hosting ApHC-approved shows a more viable option.

ApHC Regional Clubs now have a multitude of opportunities available to help them host events that will work for their particular demographic. Other major focal points built-in to the new show system package include encouraging entry-level competition, revamping the Year-End High Point Awards, changing the qualification process for the World Championship Appaloosa Show, promoting co-sponsored events with other regional clubs and/ or associations and to increase the number of carded ApHC-judges through the Guest Judge Program.

Prior to the Guest Judge Program, a major challenge many ApHC regional clubs encountered was finding an ApHC-carded judge in their geographical area. Travel expenses to hire ApHC-carded judges from outside areas had proven to be costly enough in many instances to prevent clubs from hosting a show. The ApHC Guest Judge Program allows for judges who are carded with other approved associations to apply for approval to participate as a guest judge at a maximum of two ApHC-approved shows. While only a handful of judges have been approved to serve as Guest Judges this year, the ApHC has noticed a significant increase in applications to become a regularly carded ApHC Judge since the introduction of the program.

The Appaloosa Horse Club is pleased to share this great news as regional clubs and events are the backbone of the ApHC. Increased participation at the Regional Club level demonstrates that interest and enthusiasm for the Appaloosa Horse is alive and well.

For more information on ways to get involved, or to find out how your regional club can take advantage of the many new opportunities available through the new show system, contact the ApHC Performance Department at (208) 882-5578 ext. 400. For additional information on ApHC Regional Clubs, visit: http://www.appaloosa.com/clubs-affiliates/regional_clubs.htm or contact (208) 882-5578 ext. 274.