Paint Horse Journal

10/21/2025

𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗹/𝗔𝗣𝗛𝗔 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻 once again proved their expertise and dedication in the show pen, earning major wins at the 2025 Halter Million 👏

These horsemen not only showcased top-quality Paint Horses, but also represented the professionalism and mentorship that define the Pro Horsemen program. Their success is a testament to the talent, preparation and passion fueling APHA’s halter industry.

Read more 🔗 https://bit.ly/ProHorsemen2025HalterMillion

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10/21/2025

10/14/2025

Introducing the horseIQ broadcast channel—available exclusively on our Instagram!

This channel is your place for weekly trivia, receiving expert advice from judges and opportunities to test and grow your knowledge.

Join the channel and put your expertise to the test!

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10/14/2025

More than $𝟏.𝟓 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 was paid out at the 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 𝗔𝗣𝗛𝗔/𝗪𝗖𝗛𝗔 𝗛𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 in Fort Worth, Texas! 💲

With over 2,000 total entries and exhibitors from across the U.S. and beyond, the event showcased world-class Paint Horses and halter competition at its finest. From high earning payouts to scholarships and bonuses, this year’s Halter Million proved why it’s one of the most anticipated halter events of the year.

Read more about this year's Halter Million 🔗 https://bit.ly/2025APHAWCHAHalterMillion

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10/14/2025

𝐁𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐝. 𝐔𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞.🔥
With a nod to Wednesday Addams and a trust few riders ever find, Taylor Roeder and Custom Nite lit up the All American Quarter Horse Congress arena—claiming both the Open and Non-Pro Freestyle Reining titles after a jaw-dropping blindfolded routine that had the crowd on its feet.

From spins to stops, every move was built on feel, rhythm, and heart—and it earned Roeder more than $6,000 and a place in Congress history.

🔗 See how this fearless freestyle came to life: https://bit.ly/4o7TfKY

10/10/2025

Meet the nominees vying for 2026 leadership roles at APHA!

Six candidates have been selected for the 𝗔𝗣𝗛𝗔 𝗕𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗗𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀, along with four candidates for the 𝗡𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 & 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗲. State directors will cast their votes at the February 2026 Leadership Gathering in Fort Worth.

Meet the slated candidates here 🔗 https://bit.ly/2026APHALeadership

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10/10/2025

A new challenge is here; 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙞𝙣? 📋

Put your horse knowledge to the test this fall with the horseIQ Hippology Challenge! This online competition is open to all Youth and covers a wide range of equine industry and management topics, split into two age divisions.

✔ New test sections release every two weeks on horseIQ, with the final deadline on 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟭𝟱
✔ Compete for prizes, recognition and bragging rights
✔ $5 per contestant to enter

Think you’ve got what it takes? Accept the challenge today 🔗 https://bit.ly/horseIQHippologyChallenge

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10/03/2025

10/03/2025

𝐀𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐎𝐜𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦: 𝐇𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐚’𝐬 𝐇𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐞𝐛𝐮𝐭

For most exhibitors at the 2025 APHA/WCHA Halter Million, the journey to Fort Worth, Texas, is a matter of a few hours on the road. For Hilda Van Leeuwen, it took crossing an ocean.

The horsewoman from Wassenaar, Holland, arrived in Texas this fall with a suitcase full of show clothes, her trainer by her side and a striking gelding named Wow What A Secret waiting for her in the barn aisle. It was Hilda’s first time competing at the Halter Million, and she made the trip count.

𝙇𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙖𝙩 𝙁𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩 𝘾𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙠

Hilda purchased “Maverick” in Summer 2025. Her trainer, Kimberly Clark of Floral City, Florida, was selling the gelding for some clients.

Falling for Maverick was a bit of a surprise. Hilda had told Kimberly that she wanted a mare, preferably without a white face or blue eyes. Then one day, Kimberly sent her a photo of a young gelding that checked all the boxes she didn’t want.

“I fell in love with him on the internet,” Hilda said. “I always said, ‘No white face, no blue eyes.’ And what did I end up with? You guessed it. He’s got a white face and two blue eyes.”

Maverick is a 2022 sorrel overo gelding by Im The Secret and out of Wow What A Razzle. He was bred by Jack and Sherry Melver of Ionia, Iowa. Kimberly had known Maverick since he was about 10 months old.

“When she decided to buy Maverick, he was for sale from a previous client,” Kimberly said. “Their kid had to go off to college, and he was a Youth horse. So, they decided to sell him, but they wanted to make sure he went to someone that they were really happy with.”

The transition felt seamless, Kimberly says.

“Actually, they all knew each other anyway, so it worked out great,” she said. “The previous owners are happy with the new owner, and so that’s why we’re here, because she wanted to make a stop off before he heads to her country. And I said, ‘Well, let’s knock off one thing off your bucket list and go do it.’ ”

𝙄𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘼𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙖

Kimberly was more than proud to see Maverick shine on a big stage at the Halter Million. The moment seemed like their story coming full circle.

“He came to me when he was about 10 months old. He’s been very fun,” Kimberly said. “He’s done really well on the Youth and the Amateur and the Open. And he’s just full of personality. He’s never boring, but he’s very sweet and kind, and he tries hard.”

The gelding earned Top 10s in Open and Amateur 3-Year-Old Geldings at the Halter Million with Kimberly and Hilda. The experience of showing in Texas was vastly different from what Hilda was used to.

“In Europe, we have shows, but it’s not as big as this,” she said. “Especially the halter horses. It’s a very small industry there. There are a few breeders in Italy and in Germany; there is one or two in Holland. And here it’s like, wow.”

𝘽𝙚𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙇𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙧 𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙚

Transporting a horse takes patience and detailed planning, with the hope that the journey is smooth. For Hilda and her clan, sending Maverick from Florida to Texas and then on to Holland took extra careful planning.

“The only stressful thing was just kind of keeping him happy, healthy and out of mischief until he got here,” Hilda said. “I’ve got everything planned ahead of time. I just want everybody to be happy and healthy. It does give me a few ulcers, but that’s OK. It’s worth it.”

Once Maverick finishes quarantine and arrives in Holland, Hilda has plans for his future.

“Obviously, Maverick is a true halter horse, with a physique that matches,” Hilda said. “He will be in training in Holland, and then [Kimberly] will make a rider out of him for me. Hopefully, everything works out. Where we can show him, we will show him.”

View the official article 🔗 https://bit.ly/HildasHalterMillionDebut

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10/03/2025

Larry Volkmar is more than a horseman; he’s a proud grandfather who treasures every moment with his grandchildren, inside the arena and out. This year, he brought his granddaughter and four horses to the 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝐀𝐏𝐇𝐀/𝐖𝐂𝐇𝐀 𝐇𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧, where together they earned buckles and formed lifelong memories.

Read more about Larry’s devotion to family and his beloved Paints 🔗 https://bit.ly/LarryVolkmar2025HalterMillion

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09/28/2025

𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐑𝐢𝐧𝐠

The APHA/WCHA Halter Million is a family affair for Jeffery and Calisa Wesley of Creola, Alabama, usually with Jeffery showing the couple’s young stock. This year is special, though—instead of providing encouragement from the stands, it’s Calisa who found herself in the arena.

Jeffery has been showing for 25 years. He has dabbled in a little of every discipline, and halter horses just stuck.

“It’s always been a family thing for us, I always try to keep my kids involved in it,” Jeffery said.

Calisa and their son, Bryce, often accompany Jeffery to horse shows. Before meeting Jeffery, Calisa had never been around horses. She was not interested in competing, preferring instead to cheer from the sidelines.

“I like to show up, read my books, be supportive. That’s my thing,” Calisa said.

This year, though, Calisa found herself thrust into a hands-on role. While Jeffery was away, one of their mares went into labor. All alone, Calisa rolled up her sleeves to help their mare, relying on Jeffery’s coaching via Bluetooth as he watched the barn cameras from afar. His words of instruction? “Take your rings off, put them in your pocket and get in there.”

Jeffery did his best to coach Calisa, hoping the video feed wasn’t delayed. But the usually calm-and-collected horseman was worried.

“I don’t really get nervous when I show; I get nervous when other people are showing—it was kind of the same thing,” Jeffery said. “Not being able to help her definitely had me worked up pretty good.”

Calisa helped deliver Packin A Kimber, a 2025 bay solid filly by CR Peacemaker (QH) and out of JRA Im A Good Girl. As she dried off the newborn, Calisa knew she wanted to one day show the filly. Her reasoning was simple.

“Because I pulled her out,” Calisa said. “I feel like this was [Jeffery] hooking me on it because now she’s my horse. She ain’t going nowhere.”

“Kimber” is like a puppy dog, Calisa says.

“I never knew that you could love an animal that you couldn’t put in your lap until horses,” Calisa said.

The Wesleys brought two horses to the 2025 Halter Million: Kimber, along with Dreams N Gasoline, a 2023 sorrel overo mare by CR Peacemaker (QH) and out of Kioux (QH). On September 20, Calisa led Kimber into the show pen for their mutual debut. They were finalists in Weanling Mares and fifth in the WCHA Senior Weanling Fillies Owner-Breeder-Exhibitor class.

“Every time Kimber and I walk in the arena it gets better,” Calisa said. “We are learning together—I can’t wait to see what our future looks like.”

View the official article at 🔗 https://bit.ly/CalisaWesley2025

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09/28/2025