TULSA- Colorful Pinto horses, ponies and miniatures vied to be champions at the 2011 Pinto World Championship on June 7-18. Traveling from across the United States and Canada, exhibitors and their Pintos shared success as they earned a multitude of prizes, awards and friendships.
Tulsa’s Built Ford Tough Livestock Complex at Expo Square provided the venue for tough competition for over 2,000 exhibitors and more than 7,400 judged class entries. Produced by the Pinto Horse Association of America Inc., the Pinto World Championship showcased many disciplines including jumping, reining, driving, roping, pleasure and halter.
Belt buckles by Gist Silversmiths and rosette ribbons were just the beginning of the approximate $225,000 in prizes awarded during the 12-day show. High point awards varied from Dale Chavez custom trophy saddles and Kensington protective products to jackets from Tioga Territory.
This was the second year of the Zone Invitational competition. The winner of each age division received a trophy saddle, reserve receiving a show headstall and third place received a show halter. All three awards were custom made by Dale Chavez Company.
“We couldn’t put this show on without our generous sponsors,” said Darrell Bilke, PtHA Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. “We were able to give great prizes this year to many of our participating Pintos at the show.”
Philanthropy is always at the heart of the Pinto family. This year the PWC included several events that support their affections for charity work, including the Charity Walk/Trot class and the Pink Your Pinto Parade. The Parade was nothing short of an emotional night that paid tribute to those who have battled cancer. Cowboy boots were decorated and painted pink by PtHA members and used to collect donations as the parade participants told their stories of survival and loss. The evening earned $2,956.00 for the Peggy and Charles Stephenson Oklahoma Cancer Center and Rein in Cancer.
The Pinto Heritage Foundation had several fundraisers this year in an effort to raise money for the youth scholarship program. A framed, signed and numbered Orren Mixer “Dreams Come True” artist proof and $500 PtHA credit were raffled off and a station laminating back numbers for exhibitors was set up. The Pinto Heritage Foundation continued with their second year of the Celebrity Walk/ Trot class. Together all of the Foundation’s events gained a total of $3,874.00.
Light-hearted and comical, the costume class provided the opportunity to see the silly side of serious horse show competitors. The class featured a dozen Pintos of all sizes and their handlers dressed in costume. The world champion was Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and the reserve champion was a carousel horse and rider.
“It is nice to see competitors having a good time together at the show,” said Bilke. “We try to keep a light-hearted, family atmosphere so people can get the most out of their experience.”
Challenged Rider’s Leadline class boasted exhibitors from across the nation. Sponsored by Ford Farms the class gave challenged riders a chance to win a world champion buckle in front of their family and friends. A turnout of 15 proud world champions walked away with this years shiniest buckle from Gist Silversmiths.
Evening competitions kept spectators entertained as Pintos competed for prestigious titles. Among those were the youth/amateur and the open versatility events in honor of influential PtHA supporters, Billie Cousins and Denny Tuttle respectively. After competing in the four events that tested a variety of the Pintos’ skills, Starlotte, shown and owned by Brayanna Bergstrom, won the youth/amateur versatility and Ton of Trouble, shown by Heather Brower and Amanda Ringer and owned by Julia Dejonghe, won the open versatility. Additionally, Charisma Spots Agold, shown and owned by Joni Osborn, won the Miniature Versatility Showcase.
Exhibitor J. Fred Tabor led KidsClassicCenterfold, owned by John Cadenhead, to the Supreme Color Championship.
When the Youth and Amateurs were not in the show ring or getting their horse ready for their next class, they had the opportunity to compete in a horse knowledge test and the team tournament competition.
Proving the Pinto World Championship isn’t all about equine competition, many special family-friendly activities were held during the two weeks in Tulsa. These included the PWC Welcome Party with free food and drinks, the Youth and Amateur Ice Cream Social, the PWC Dog Show and a new event to the show, the Horses for Heroes walk/ trot class. This class allowed active military, veterans and their families to participate in the world show and receive due recognition for their continuous dedication to our country.
Incorporated in 1956, the Pinto Horse Association of America was formed to encourage the promotion of quality horses, ponies and miniatures with color and to establish a registry for maintaining their pedigrees and records. Currently, the association serves approximately 12,000 members and boasts more than 141,000 registered Pintos.
For more information about the 2011 Pinto World Championship and for complete results, please visit www.pintoworld.com. To learn more about the Association, visit www.pinto.org or call the PtHA headquarters (405) 491-0111.
