Zone 2/Utah Paint-O-Rama On Track to Defend #1 Spot as Largest APHA Show
By: Brittany Bevis
In 2014, the Western Regional Zone 2 Show claimed the #1 spot as the largest APHA show in the country with 1,143 entries for the six-judge event. An additional four-judge show that followed racked up more than 1,000 entries.
This week, the Zone 2/Utah Paint-O-Rama is on track to defend the title they’ve earned for the sixth time over the past eight years.
The event begins tomorrow at the Salt Lake County Equestrian Park in South Jordan, Utah and will continue through the 25th. Over the course of the next five days, APHA competitors will have the opportunity to show to ten judges!
Zone 2 judges: April Devitt, Casey Devitt, Holly Hover, Chris Arnold, Don Beard, and Chris Strine
Paint-O-Rama judges: Scott Merritt, Jennifer Thompson, Ruth Ellen, and Joe Carter
We had the opportunity to chat with Show Manager Terri Wirthlin to find out how the show is shaping up for 2015.
“Our stalls are looking great this year!” Wirthlin says. “At last count we had 390 stalls reserved.”
With confirmed cases of EHV-1 and Vesicular Stomatitis in areas of Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and Oregon, some were concerned the show might be affected. However, show management released a statement last week to allay exhibitor’s concerns and inform the public of precautionary measures that have been put into place to protect horses coming to the facility.
May 13th statement- “We are not contemplating postponing the show, but rest assured we are taking all the recommended precautions in dealing with both viruses. Please note that the VS quarantine related to the endurance trail event in Utah happened in Kane County, approximately 282 miles southeast of Salt Lake City. However, we will be checking all horse’s health certificates as they arrive at the Equestrian Park.”
Horses from Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico will require a VS statement in addition to their health certificate. An EHV-1 statement will be required on horses coming from Oregon. When it comes time to leave the show, South Valley Large Animal Hospital will be working with competitors to provide any documentation necessary for returning to your home state.
In addition to the regular APHA classes on the schedule, there is a full slate of solid paint-bred classes for youth, amateur, and open divisions. Also, APHA Zone Championship classes will run concurrently with corresponding APHA classes; Competitors may enter for just $20.
On Saturday evening, the Premier Paint Stallions group will be putting on an Exhibitors’ Dinner with co-sponsors Rockin E Country Store and Espuela Ranch. On the menu is spaghetti, garlic bread, caesar salad, and Sweet Shop brownies.
If you can’t make it to the show this year, Horseshowwebcasts.com will be providing a live webcast! This is the first time the event has been broadcast live. Click here to view the live webcast.
For more information on the show and to download patterns, visit the Utah Paint Horse Club website.
Stay tuned to EquineChronicle.com for photos and results coming soon.
