Article and Photos by Tootie Trouy
Gold is my favorite color! Horse color, that is. And there was plenty of gold to be seen during the Palomino Horse Breeders of America World Championship Horse Show held at the Paul Battle Jr. Arena and Exposition Center in Tunica, MS from July 10th through the 20th.
Since 1941, the Palomino Horse Breeders of America has been dedicated “to recording and preserving the pedigree of the Palomino Horse, while maintaining the integrity of the breeds.” They offer the opportunity for a horse to be registered through the PHBA, although they may be already registered through their respective breed organizations, given they meet color and white requirements. The organization also strives to offer services for members that enhance and encourage Palomino ownership. “PHBA maintains records on more than 88,000 horses and owners, more than 250,000 horse show entries, and over five hundred horse shows. PHBA provides recreational, financial, and competitive rewards for every age group, extending more than 900 approved classes for amateurs, novice/amateur, youth and open programs. Classes range from halter to jumping, horsemanship to driving, cutting to saddle seat, pole bending to reining, and barrel racing,” according to PHBA.
Every July, the culmination of a year's worth of competing at PHBA shows comes in the form of the World Championship Horse Show, which for nearly 30 years was held in Tulsa, Oklahoma. However, when contract renewal came up, their previous venue rearranged the dates of future Worlds, pushing the show into August. The Executive Board felt that this would be detrimental to the success of the show, due to the fact that school also begins at the beginning of August. Staying true to their dedication to providing a family friendly organization, the PHBA made the decision to move their largest and most prestigious show of the year to Tunica, MS, where it will remain at least until 2015. PHBA President Melonie Furnish offered a statement to members regarding the move saying, “The hope of PHBA is that you can be part of this new direction and create another road to share memories with your PHBA families.”
It would certainly seem that plenty of members embraced the change as 850 of these gorgeous golden animals came from all over the United States, Canada and Mexico vying for one of those beautiful blue sashes and their share of more than $500,000 cash and prizes that are awarded. From chocolate to golden, solid to paint, every color and shade that is the Palomino horse was shined up and ready to strut their stuff this year. One such horse was Junior, or Zipped N Cools Image, a 7 year old western pleasure gelding whose handsome face graces our cover. He and his owner/rider Dawn Newport traveled from Fort Wayne, IN for Junior's first World Show. An avid camera poser and friendly licker, Junior stood out in a sea of yellow horses with white manes and tails.
For more information regarding the Palomino Horse Breeders Association, registry and upcoming shows, visit www.palominohba.com.
Photo Captions:
Photo 1: Zipped N Cools Image; his barn name is Junior. He is a 7-year-old Western Pleasure gelding owned and ridden by Dawn Newport of Fort Wayne, IN.
Photo 3: Sabra Schmidt of Monroe, NE smiles as she exits the arena after her horse, Decks Impulse is awarded the blue ribbon in the NSBA Select Western Pleasure class.
Palomino2: Competitors await the judges' scrutiny in the Amateur Yearling Stallions class.
Palomino3: Celebrate Him poses with owner Zachary Robertson of Anniston, AL in the Amateur Three Year Old Stallions class.
Palomino4: Competitors line up in the Select Western Pleasure Class.
Gold is my favorite color! Horse color, that is. And there was plenty of gold to be seen during the Palomino Horse Breeders of America World Championship Horse Show held at the Paul Battle Jr. Arena and Exposition Center in Tunica, MS from July 10th through the 20th.
Since 1941, the Palomino Horse Breeders of America has been dedicated “to recording and preserving the pedigree of the Palomino Horse, while maintaining the integrity of the breeds.” They offer the opportunity for a horse to be registered through the PHBA, although they may be already registered through their respective breed organizations, given they meet color and white requirements. The organization also strives to offer services for members that enhance and encourage Palomino ownership. “PHBA maintains records on more than 88,000 horses and owners, more than 250,000 horse show entries, and over five hundred horse shows. PHBA provides recreational, financial, and competitive rewards for every age group, extending more than 900 approved classes for amateurs, novice/amateur, youth and open programs. Classes range from halter to jumping, horsemanship to driving, cutting to saddle seat, pole bending to reining, and barrel racing,” according to PHBA.
Every July, the culmination of a year's worth of competing at PHBA shows comes in the form of the World Championship Horse Show, which for nearly 30 years was held in Tulsa, Oklahoma. However, when contract renewal came up, their previous venue rearranged the dates of future Worlds, pushing the show into August. The Executive Board felt that this would be detrimental to the success of the show, due to the fact that school also begins at the beginning of August. Staying true to their dedication to providing a family friendly organization, the PHBA made the decision to move their largest and most prestigious show of the year to Tunica, MS, where it will remain at least until 2015. PHBA President Melonie Furnish offered a statement to members regarding the move saying, “The hope of PHBA is that you can be part of this new direction and create another road to share memories with your PHBA families.”
It would certainly seem that plenty of members embraced the change as 850 of these gorgeous golden animals came from all over the United States, Canada and Mexico vying for one of those beautiful blue sashes and their share of more than $500,000 cash and prizes that are awarded. From chocolate to golden, solid to paint, every color and shade that is the Palomino horse was shined up and ready to strut their stuff this year. One such horse was Junior, or Zipped N Cools Image, a 7 year old western pleasure gelding whose handsome face graces our cover. He and his owner/rider Dawn Newport traveled from Fort Wayne, IN for Junior's first World Show. An avid camera poser and friendly licker, Junior stood out in a sea of yellow horses with white manes and tails.
For more information regarding the Palomino Horse Breeders Association, registry and upcoming shows, visit www.palominohba.com.
Photo Captions:
Photo 1: Zipped N Cools Image; his barn name is Junior. He is a 7-year-old Western Pleasure gelding owned and ridden by Dawn Newport of Fort Wayne, IN.
Photo 3: Sabra Schmidt of Monroe, NE smiles as she exits the arena after her horse, Decks Impulse is awarded the blue ribbon in the NSBA Select Western Pleasure class.
Palomino2: Competitors await the judges' scrutiny in the Amateur Yearling Stallions class.
Palomino3: Celebrate Him poses with owner Zachary Robertson of Anniston, AL in the Amateur Three Year Old Stallions class.
Palomino4: Competitors line up in the Select Western Pleasure Class.
