Making Moments Matter
The first recipient of the APHC Making Moments Matter challenge coin was volunteer Teresa Sullivan, pictured here with board members Cassie Gaarder, Mindy Erskine, and Elizabeth Ryan.
Arizona Paint Horse Club’s groundbreaking Coin Challenge kicks off in 2025 with its first recipients, Teresa Sullivan and Crysta Brown.
As the industry questions the fate of locally driven shows, the industrious and longstanding Arizona Paint Horse Club (APHC) continues to celebrate what it has always known to keep their club strong.
Behind the heart of shows are the volunteers, the ambassadors of the Paint Horse and the love of the horse – and that’s the way it has been since the club was established in 1963 by Colin and Jean Beals.
Their flagship show, Copper Country Paint-O-Rama, underway at WestWorld of Scottsdale until January 3rd, was the setting for the first presentations of a challenge entitled, “Making Moments Matter.”
Multi-carded judge and trainer Teresa Sullivan was a last-minute volunteer substitute to teach the English and Western Versatility Clinics to benefit the Arizona Junior Paint Horse Club on December 28, 2025. The two back-to-back one-hour clinics were a huge hit with excellent instruction, and at the end, Teresa was surprised at the end to be honored with the presentation of a Making Moments Matter challenge coin from APHC Awards Coordinator and Director Cassie Gaarder.
Cassie explains, “The challenge coin gives the opportunity to pass on a good stewardship feeling when we know somebody has done something good. We want to be able to empower people to always do their best, be on the lookout for people doing the right thing and just have a good feeling about giving that coin.”
The recipient can pass the coin forward if they observe good sportsmanship, or they can hold onto it, says Cassie, a retired Police Specialist for the City of Glendale. “The challenge coin idea came from a lot of law enforcement organizations I’m involved in, so I’ve incorporated into the club.”
She adds that it’s the behind the scenes acts of kindness or integrity that hold up the industry, and recognizing those ideals are of utmost importance. “We want to be able to say, ‘Hey, I saw what you did for that person. You helped them out or you did a good thing for the club or the industry or the horse.’ And I think it just shows that for exhibitors, we can do good, and we can always do better.
Teresa, who was caught completely by surprise, says she’s very overwhelmed to accept the first coin. “It’s a pretty special idea, and I’m excited to pass that feeling along to who I feel deserves it at this show. I think it should keep going, and I think we need more sportsmanship in all of our shows. And I’m happy to do my part to pass it along.”
The second honoree of the show was another generous volunteer: Crysta Brown of Crysta Brown Horsemanship, who hosted a free mini-clinic to help riders build confidence in Western Horsemanship on Monday, December 29th. Crysta, a recipient of the AQHA Emerging Leader Award, was honored and thankful to the Arizona Paint Horse Club. “Being recognized for volunteering to host a horsemanship clinic at the Copper Country Paint-O-Rama show truly means a lot to me, and I’m beyond grateful to be part of a horse community that celebrates learning, support, and showing up for one another,” she says.
The Making Moments Matter Coin Challenge (by APHC):
This coin represents our commitment to Making Moments Matter. It’s a reminder that every effort, every interaction, and every moment we create has purpose and impact. Thank you for being part of something meaningful.
With this coin, you can keep your coin with pride, or pass your coin along. The intent of our coin is for Making Moments Matter, and if you observe someone making a difference and decide to pass your coin along, we would love to hear about it! Together, we cam be part of something meaningful.
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