Published: July 26, 2008 02:15 pm         

Amateur wins World Championship title

Paint horse amateur competitor James Buechler of Terre Haute captured a title recently at the 2008 World Championship Paint Horse Show.

The show, June 21 through July 5 in Fort Worth, Texas, is the American Paint Horse Association’s premier event. Buechler captured the championship in Amateur 3-Year-Old Mares showing Ucan Call On Me.

In the class, horses are shown in-hand and judged on their physical qualities.

The World Championship Paint Horse Show is the largest gathering of paint horses on the planet.

For two weeks, competitors and spectators witnessed nearly 2,000 horses competing in 187 events that showcased the talents of each horse and rider.

Winning a World Championship means a particular horse and rider are the best paint horse team in the world in a particular event. Total prizes and payouts totaled more than $400,000.

APHA was founded 46 years ago and has since registered nearly 1 million American paint horses. The association currently serves more than 93,000 active members. APHA works not only to record paint horse pedigrees, but also to preserve and promote the history, breeding, training, racing, showing, sales and enjoyment of American Paint Horses.

For more information about the World Show, visit aphaworldshow.com or call APHA at (817) 834-2742.