2010 Paint World Show

By Jennifer Walker

            The 2010 Paint Summer World Show took place June 23 – July 3 at the Will Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth, Texas. This is just the first part of the Paint World Championships, where the youth, reining and cattle events were held. The remaining open and amateur classes will be held in November.
“It’s a great show,” Karen Qualls commented. “It’s the kids’ big chance to shine, and always worth the trip.”
Julie Thompson Martell added, “My youth gear up for it all year round. They make a family vacation out of it and do fun things like Six Flags and the zoo while they’re there. There’s a lot to do close by.”
Martell’s student Kate Peterson became the new AjPHA President-elect at the show, as well as finishing in the top ten in all of her classes. In fact, Martell was proud of all of her students. “We plan their goals a year in advance and work all year with those goals in mind. At the World Show, everyone achieved their goals, which makes for happy kids and happy parents.”

To Split or not to Split
In its third year since the Paint World Show was split into two separate events, most exhibitors have something to say about whether the split was a good idea.
“It’s OK,” said Karen Qualls. “The kids love it. This way, all the attention is on them. For me, it splits my job up a little. I took five to the youth show and will take 15 this fall, so that makes my job a little easier. I don’t have to take care of 20 clients at once.”
Julie Thompson Martell, on the other hand, feels the split wasn’t a good move. “The economy doesn’t warrant it,” she said. “It’s too much money for the clients to travel twice if they have classes at both shows.”
Shelley Lunde can see both sides of the issue. “On the one hand, it’s nice because the young horses don’t have to be ready quite so early in the year. However, I have clients who won’t go to either show this year, because the adult and kid ride the same horse. If they both show at the same show, they get more bang for their buck. With the split shows, it’s too expensive and not worth it.” For the over 10 years Lunde has been attending the show as a trainer, she always took 18-20 clients with her. This year, however, she only took seven.
“I don’t know if it’s just the economy, but there used to be a whole building dedicated to vendors,” Lunde continued. “This time, there was only one room of them. There were fewer people at the show, and the vendors are going to go where there are more people.”

Versatility Class
The Versatility class is one that used to be quite common, but has fallen by the wayside in recent years. However, it was offered at the Paint World Show this year and was very well received. Each contestant was allowed to bring two grooms, who carted all of their tack into the arena in a wheelbarrow. The riders first performed in a Hunter Under Saddle class, then had a five minute tack change in the arena with the assistance of their grooms, then Western Pleasure, Reining and Barrel Racing with three minutes in between each to change.
“It was fun,” Lunde said, whose client Cassandra Stambuk won the class aboard Im Big Time Dirty after winning the Hunter Under Saddle and Reining portions and coming second in the Western Pleasure and Barrel Racing sections. “It was something new and different. The audience really got into it, especially the barrel racing part. The kids really got into making their All Around horses run.”

An Ideal Location
The facility can have a big effect on the enjoyment exhibitors get out of a show, and the Will Rogers Memorial Center didn’t disappoint. “There’s always an arena to ride in,” Qualls remarked. “It’s a great facility for that—no matter what the weather is or what classes are going on, you still have somewhere to ride. Plus, there are six or seven hotels and some great restaurants within about a mile of the facility. I usually don’t even leave that street.”
Qualls and her group had a great show, bringing home two World Championships, two Reserve World Championships, two third places and multiple top ten finishes. “I was very pleased with how the kids did, and it was great how they cheered each other on. It was very competitive, but they held their own.”

Congratulations to all of the youth, reining and cattle class exhibitors at the Paint Summer World Show!