APHA World Show Changes For 2013

The American Paint Horse Association (APHA) and the Appaloosa Horse Club (ApHC) have agreed to overlap their Youth World Championship Shows beginning in 2013.

This joint venture materialized due to a decision by the ApHC Board of Directors to move the location of the Appaloosa Nationals and Appaloosa Youth World Show from its current location at Tulsa Expo Square in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to the Will Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth, Texas, which is also the home of APHA’s Youth World Championship Show.

The Will Rogers Memorial Center (WRMC) announced today that the City of Fort Worth has won a 5-year contract to host the National Appaloosa Show & World Championship Appaloosa Youth Show and will continue to host the World Championship Appaloosa Show for five additional years. Its bid was bolstered by the new $32-million Equestrian Multi-Purpose Building at WRMC.

“We are ecstatic to have won this bid and to now be working with the National and World Championship Youth Shows for The Appaloosa Horse Club,” said Kirk Slaughter, Public Events Director for the City of Fort Worth.

The projected economic impact of this two week summer event $11 million for the city. The summer show will overlap with the American Paint Horse Association Youth World Championship Show, presenting a unique opportunity for cooperation between two of the largest stock horse organizations in the world.

The board of the Appaloosa Horse Club, headquartered in Moscow, ID., approved the contract with Will Rogers for two shows from 2013-2017.Tentative dates are June 23 – July 5, 2014; June 22 – July 4, 2015; June 27 – July 9, 2016 and June 26 – July 8, 2017.

“The Will Rogers facility in Fort Worth is an excellent venue for both our major shows,” said Appaloosa Horse Club Chief Executive Officer Steve Taylor. “Beyond some basic efficiencies in terms of logistics and costs, the recent upgrades at WRMC and a double dose of Texas hospitality will ensure that our exhibitors have a great experience.”

The Equestrian Multi-Purpose Building opens June 6 and includes two indoor 20,000-square-foot exercise arenas on the upper level and approximately 740 additional stalls. An expanded underground tunnel system will allow exhibitors and their horses to move throughout the complex without interfering with traffic or being exposed to inclement weather.The two shows will overlap from June 28 – July 6, 2013.