More than 350 Paints light up Las Vegas

December 5th was a history-making day when dedicated Paint owners, members, trainers, exhibitors, directors and staff members met up at the South Point Hotel and Casino Equestrian Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, to make the first-ever “Paint Vegas” horse show a reality.

In all, more than 350 horses were checked in and entries were nearing the 500 mark at the start of the day. Owners hailed from 27 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, Canada and Germany. The largest state contingent of Paint Vegas participants was from California, with 125 Paints entered. Texas followed with 55 horses and Arizona with 21.

Special awards
Champions at the inaugural Paint Vegas Horse Show will bring something extra special back home this year—an exclusive Paint Horse trophy as unique as the competitors it will honor. This one-of-a-kind award will be given to champions of all classes held during the show, including the limited champions.

Designed by renowned artist Marrita McMillian, this magnificent bronze features three sculpted Paint Horse heads and an engraved glass plaque. The attention to detail seen in the trophy may be familiar to many Paint enthusiasts, as this trophy isn’t the first time APHA has commissioned the work of this talented sculptor.

McMillian also produced the larger-than-lifesize bronze sculpture—Legacy of Color—which graces the front entrance of the APHA international headquarters building in Fort Worth, Texas. She is also the artist behind the limited collector’s editions of that bronze, which is available to the public through the American Paint Horse Foundation.

Big payouts
Much more than your typical horse show, APHA’s new Paint Vegas promises many exciting futurity, jackpot and slot classes, and will also award over $450,000 in cash instead of points. The event will pay out $225,000 in added money in the open and non-pro classes, in addition to the estimated total payback of $228,500 for the slot classes.

Classes offered throughout this week include working cow horse, reining, yearling longe line, Western pleasure, halter, hunter under saddle, cutting, roping and barrel racing.

There will also be special Gamblers Choice trail, working hunter classic and 3-year-old cutting challenge events. Many classes are dual-approved with a number of performance organizations, including the National Reined Cow Horse Association and the National Reining Horse Association.

There’s a lot to take home
Paint Vegas also is featuring a special gift show. This premier shopping experience is tailored for holiday shoppers interested in Western-lifestyle merchandise.

The time is perfect for bringing home Christmas gifts and special souvenirs that will immortalize this history-making event for the American Paint Horse breed.

Best odds in town
And, while you’re in Vegas, be sure to take advantage of the best odds anywhere around by taking a chance on a New Holland TC31DA with Supersteer capabilities and a 240 TL loader through the American Paint Horse Foundation’s (APHF) Donate & Draw Program. Continuing through July 7, 2007, this fund-raiser—which is hosted by the American Paint Horse Foundation and APHA’s newest corporate sponsor, New Holland—will help support youth scholarships, promote equine research and preserve the heritage of the American Paint Horse.

Only the first 750 $100-donors will be eligible for the drawing. Stop by the gift show to see this tractor and get details on how to enter before it’s too late.