Official American Paint Horse Association

08/31/2026

Our next group of world champions has arrived! 🎉

Amateur Walk-Trot Western Pleasure | Nancy Fracasse & 𝐕𝐒 𝐆𝐨𝐭 𝐀 𝐑𝐡𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐦
Masters Amateur Walk-Trot Horsemanship | Wendy Brown & 𝐇𝐞𝐬𝐚 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧
Amateur Walk-Trot Trail | Christina Thode & 𝐂𝐑 𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞
Novice Amateur Barrel Racing | Shawna Selman & 𝐊𝐞𝐲𝐬 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞
Amateur Walk-Trot Western Horsemanship | Christina Thode & 𝐂𝐑 𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞
Novice Amateur Ranch Pleasure | Charity Green & 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐀 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐤𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠
Novice Amateur Ranch Reining | Hailey Schmidt & 𝐓𝐚𝐠𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐭
Novice Amateur Ranch Riding | Charity Green & 𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐲 𝐁𝐨𝐛𝐛𝐲
Novice Amateur Ranch Rail Pleasure | Charity Green & 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐀 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐤𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠
Novice Amateur Ranch Trail | Hailey Schmidt & 𝐓𝐚𝐠𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐭
Amateur Walk-Trot Showmanship | Dawn Parker & 𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐌𝐚𝐝𝐞
Amateur Walk-Trot Hunt-Seat Equitation | Michele Guerra & 𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐌𝐚𝐝𝐞
Masters Amateur Walk-Trot Hunter Under Saddle | Heather Berry & 𝐀 𝐓𝐨𝐩 𝐆𝐮𝐧
Amateur Walk-Trot Hunter Under Saddle | Michele Guerra & 𝐋𝐮𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐀𝐭 𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐢𝐤𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐤
Masters Amateur Walk-Trot Western Pleasure | Jayme Fleeman & 𝐉𝐨𝐞 𝐖𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐡
Youth Showmanship 18 & Under | Alea Albert & 𝐈𝐭𝐬 𝐒𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞
Youth Showmanship 13 & Under | Alyssa Bass & 𝐀 𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭
Masters Amateur Walk-Trot Trail | Ami Boal-Bennett & 𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐳𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐰𝐛𝐨𝐲
Masters Amateur Walk-Trot Showmanship | Laurie Simpter & 𝐑𝐊 𝐅𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐍 𝐋𝐚𝐳𝐲

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08/28/2026

2026 AjPHA Make Your Mark Art & Photo Contest winners named 🖌

The art and photography skills of our Youth members were on display in the 2026 AjPHA Make Your Mark Art & Photo Contest and coloring contest, showcased at the 2026 APHA World Championship Show. The contests offered multiple age categories, and winners were selected by a panel of APHA staff judges. The Top Five in each age category in the Art & Photo Contest won cash prizes.

Congratulations to our champion artists! Pictured below is the winning entry in the Youth 14–18 Photography contest from Taylor Mack.

Meet this year's winners 🔗 https://bit.ly/AjPHA2026ArtandPhotoWinners

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08/28/2026

Meet the latest world champions to claim their place at the top. 📈

Novice Amateur Western Riding | 𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐌𝐞 𝐀 𝐂𝐨𝐰𝐛𝐨𝐲 & Kimberly Guenther
Novice Amateur Trail | 𝐑𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐮𝐥𝐬𝐞 & Katherine Spratt
Novice Amateur Hunt-Seat Equitation | 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐈𝐳 𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 & Mattie Dukes
Novice Amateur Hunter Under Saddle | 𝐒𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 & Heather Kragerud
Novice Amateur Showmanship | 𝐒𝐮𝐦 𝐒𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐭 & McKenna Hooyer
Novice Amateur Western Pleasure | 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐲 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 & Mark Adrian Nall
Novice Amateur Western Horsemanship | 𝐑𝐇𝐅 𝐓𝐨𝐨 𝐅𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐓𝐨 𝐙𝐢𝐩 & Leah Blay
Novice Amateur Reining | 𝐍𝐢𝐜 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐳 & Sofia Roberts
Novice Amateur Ranch Boxing | 𝐒𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐒 𝐀𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 & Hailey Schmidt
Novice Amateur Ranch Cutting | 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐬 𝐒𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐭 & Amanda Ford

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08/26/2026

Already wishing we could relive our time in the ring at the APHA Eastern National Championship Show. 🥹

2026 APHA Eastern National Championship Show photos by Ruehle Photographix LLC.

Photos are available to purchase at ruehlephotographix.com

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08/26/2026

We’re voting this as our survival strategy. ✋🏼😃

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08/23/2026

Stay in the heart of the Fort Worth Stockyards at SpringHill Suites by Marriott Fort Worth Historic Stockyards, where you'll enjoy spacious suites, complimentary hot breakfast, a refreshing pool, and walkable access to the area's best shopping, dining, and entertainment.

Then, take the elevator to Ático, the only rooftop restaurant in the Stockyards, for Spanish-inspired cuisine, handcrafted cocktails, and unforgettable rooftop views.

📍 Stay. Dine. Explore.
🔗 Plan your visit today at Marriott.com/DFWSY

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08/23/2026

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞 & 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐊𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲𝐧𝐧 𝐋𝐲𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐄𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐞𝐛𝐮𝐭

As a U.S. Navy veteran, Katelynn Lyden of Rushville, Indiana, knows about setting goals and seeing them through to fruition. She’s applied the same tenacity to her horse-showing life and is excited to make her debut at the 2026 APHA Eastern National Championship Show, which took place August 20–23 in Wilmington, Ohio.

“This show is special because it represents how far we’ve come together as a team,” she said. “All the hours of practice, all the driving and the miles, and every challenge that’s led us here. This will be the highest level show we’ve attended. I’m excited to compete alongside my horse and make memories, regardless of the results.”

Katelynn’s partner is BDF Strait Up Class, a 2024 bay tobiano mare by Cats Smoken Strait and out of JGR A Tru Classy Lady. She bought the mare as a yearling from breeder Jessica Gratz of Readstown, Wisconsin. The floppy-lipped “Trudy” has a huge personality that makes Katelynn smile.

𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐧𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠

Their journey to Eastern Nationals has been built on dedication, patience and perseverance, Katelynn says. They’re competing in tobiano color, Amateur 2-Year-Old In-Hand Trail and Amateur 2-Year-Old Longe Line.

“I drive one-and-a-half hours to my trainer’s multiple times a week to work with [Trudy], all while still raising a family and working a full-time job,” she said. “It’s shown that I’m capable of anything.”

Proving that level of capability and commitment to herself—and others, like the youth she helps mentor from the Rush County 4-H Horse and Pony Club—is invaluable.

“I want to be able to show the kids from my 4-H group that, even as an adult, things can be scary and you can still go out there and do it,” Katelynn said. “I’m motivated by the opportunity to challenge myself and continue growing with my horse. Every show teaches us something new.”

Read the online article 🔗 https://bit.ly/KatelynnLydenENC

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08/22/2026

𝐃𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞 𝐌𝐜𝐂𝐫𝐚𝐲’𝐬 ‘𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲’ 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬

Success takes a village, and Danielle McCray’s story of returning to the saddle is one crafted from colorful connections throughout the Paint Horse community.

After a 2018 horse accident left Danielle with broken bones and other severe injuries, the horsewoman from Staunton, Virginia, was unsure if she’d return to riding. After healing, though, the itch returned—but Danielle was understandably more cautious in stepping back into the stirrups. Trainer Tera Fauver arranged an opportunity for Danielle to free-lease Asset By Deluxe, a 2007 palomino tobiano gelding owned by David and Carol Lands of Gloucester, Virginia.

“I still sometimes can’t believe two people that barely knew me would so graciously allow me to free lease their horse,” Danielle said about David and Carol. “I will forever be thankful for them and their graciousness. Tera and ‘Snowman’ gave me my confidence back.”

𝐀 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫

When her lease drew to a close, Danielle knew it was time to search for a Paint partner of her own. Her heart was set on a young horse, and with Tera’s expert guidance in late 2019, Danielle purchased Tell Me A New Story, a 2018 bay tobiano mare by Whata Vested Asset and out of In Stores Only. The team mostly competes in ranch events.

“She is the most wonderful partner I could ever ask for,” Danielle said about “Marylyn.” “She’s quirky. She wants attention on her terms. But anything I ask her to do, she does.”

Danielle and Marylyn have been competing at the Eastern Nationals since 2020. They’ve brought home a slew of titles over the years, including championships in tobiano color, ranch horse conformation, ranch riding and ranch rail pleasure. Last year, Danielle purchased another youngster: Dun It For The Snacks, a 2025 red dun tobiano mare by The Snack Machine and out of Hot N Silk Stockings. She showed both at the 2026 Eastern National Show in Wilmington, Ohio.

“My paint girls are my entire life. I wake up thinking about them, spend my entire day thinking about them, and fall asleep dreaming up what we will do tomorrow,” Danielle said. “Paint Horses gave me my confidence back. The first APHA show I went to, it was like walking into a big family gathering. I had no idea who anyone was, but you’d have never known that with how friendly everyone was. I was thrilled when I won my first class, and the other exhibitors cheered along with me. It was amazing! It has been like that at every APHA show. I’ve gotten to know these people over the years, they are some of the most lovely folks you’ll ever meet. APHA made me truly love showing!”

Read the online article 🔗 https://bit.ly/DanielleMcCraysENC

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08/21/2026

𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐨 and Lysann Frost split the championship title in the 4-Year-Old ARHA Austrian Reining Futurity L2 & L1 Non-Pro Championship after marking a 212. 🇦🇹

𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐨 is a 2022 palomino solid stallion by Shiners Voodoo (QH) and out of Trashy Desert Rose. He is owned and bred by Lysann Frost.

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Lysann Frost & Trashadoo

08/21/2026

𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐃𝐚𝐰𝐧 𝐋𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐤𝐨𝐰𝐬𝐤𝐢, 𝐄𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐬𝐮𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐭 𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐧𝐞𝐰 🙌

When Dawn Lelakowski’s daughter got married and moved away, it would have been easy to hang up her horse’s halter for good. Instead, show mom Dawn took the reins, saddling up for a new adventure and an epic return to the show ring after a 26-year hiatus.

“In 2016, Tori was moving out of state and told me to go ride her horse and have fun,” Dawn said. “I still miss being a show mom, but I got to enjoy a beautiful horse gifted to me from my daughter, while getting used to an empty nest. I am truly blessed to show such a kind, patient horse that taught me I could get back to the show pen. I rode in pleasure classes for a few years, decided to take a ranch clinic and fell in love with the ranch discipline.”

The horsewoman from Carthage, New York, is still showing her daughter’s horse, Bar Driftin Dot Com, a 2007 black tobiano mare by BHR Jingo Drifter and out of Pretty Dot. “Dottie,” now 19, will likely transition to less-intense competition after this year, Dawn says.

“I am going to be 55 this year, and my horse is 19—we are the old mares club,” she laughed. “After this show, we will compete in one more regional show and then Dottie will retire from me. Hopefully, we will find a walk-trotter for her.”

𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐇𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐡

This is Dawn’s first time competing at the APHA Eastern National Championship. Dawn does most of her training herself and travels with a group of women—they encouraged her to make the trek to Wilmington, Ohio, for the national show.

“My goals at this show are to take in all the classes with clean rides and to enjoy the show,” Dawn said. “I’ve heard what a fun and exciting show this is, so when I leave, I hope to still be laughing and smiling at all the fun I had.”

As their stories turn to new chapters, Dawn will soon be embarking on a new journey. She recently purchased a Paint yearling and hopes to find their way back to the show ring, too.

“Tori gave me the courage that I can do this—a lesson from my own child,” Dawn said. “She has definitely inspired me to follow my own dreams.”

Read the online article 🔗 https://bit.ly/DawnLelakowskiENC

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