“The landscape of the world has shifted dramatically in the last decade, and fewer people hail from rural backgrounds that inherently lead to horse encounters,” APHA Executive Director Billy Smith said. “That doesn’t mean, though, that people aren’t craving the kind of incredible animal connections found so often with horses; it’s our job to find new ways to foster the kinds of experiences that get people hooked on our incredible Paint Horses for life.”

“I honestly believe ring stewards are the silent heroes who keep our horse industry alive,” David said. “These are the folks who make sure the horse show happens: they see to the important behind-the-scenes issues and ensure horse shows run smoothly for exhibitors, and they keep the show moving and take care of judges so that we can focus on our job of judging the horse show.”