Mission

The American Paint Horse Foundation
is the heart
of the American Paint Horse Association (APHA).

We use the “Power of Paints” to improve our world. The Foundation also preserves the heritage of the American Paint Horse and ensures it remains a healthy, vibrant and respected part of our culture.

The American Paint Horse Foundation:
• fosters positive youth development;
• promotes healthy lifestyles;
• improves lives and communities through interaction with Paint Horses;
• instills pride in the heritage of the American Paint Horse and our association;
• funds research that ensures the health and vitality of the American Paint Horse.

The Foundation is a recognized IRS 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

Accomplishments

• Successful college scholarship program has awarded more than $530,000 to students.
• Outreach programs involving nearly 11,000 school children over the past two years.
• Worked with APHA to saddle up more than 1,500 children on Paint Horses.
• Supports therapeutic riding programs and similar activities.
• Launched first-ever therapeutic riding event at APHA World Show in 2009 and awarded grants to seven participating centers.
• Works with APHA to host annual “Saddle Up for St. Jude” trail rides that have raised $34,000 over the past 3 years for patients at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
• Closely affiliated with APHA, which is made up of nearly 85,000 members around the world and has registered nearly 1 million Paint Horses since its formation in 1962.
• The Foundation’s “Legacy of Color” bronze graces the entrance to APHA headquarters. This larger-than-lifesize bronze sculpture depicts a Paint stallion pushing along two mares and a foal.

The trail ahead

We are currently:
• strengthening our existing college scholarship and youth leadership programs;
• establishing grant program for therapeutic riding students of all ages;
• establishing grants for therapeutic riding rehabilitation of service men and women;
• creating equine educational materials for school children, 4-H groups and others;
• developing initiatives involving Paint Horses that support healthy lifestyles, teach responsibility, help teachers connect with students, and educate youngsters about the magnificent history of the horse;
• identifying equine research projects; and
• developing new funding opportunities to support our mission.