American Paint Horse Foundation

Aptly named "Unexpected Help," this limited edition series will help get injured riders back in the saddle.

Quite literally, the American Paint Horse Foundation recently received some “Unexpected Help,” in the form of a beautiful limited-edition bronze series by the same name.

Donated and created by sculptor Clay Gant and his wife, Betty, these bronzes will be offered to special donors to the Foundation’s “Back in the Saddle” project.

Read about the bronze project.

See how you can get “Unexpected Help.”

Clay and Betty Gant, of Cowboy Bronze, with two early creations.

Randy Bird and his saddle creation in progress.

I had a great visit today with talented saddle-maker Randy Bird, his son, Brett, and wife Linda.

Katie’s saddle is coming along beautifully.

In this video, Randy explains the early formation of what will ultimately become a beautiful show saddle for Katie Holland. In the next few weeks, Randy will be attaching more silver and beginning the tooling process.

Check out the video

The remarkable Katie Holland with her  2-year-old Solid Paint-Bred filly, Beauty School Dropout, aka “Chloe.” Katie is shown with  reining trainer Cameron Meissner at his Gallatin River Ranch barn in Montana.

Katie Holland, Chloe and reining trainer Cameron Meissner.

Help get Katie “Back in the Saddle.”

Help us spread the news.
Our Back in the Saddle news release is located at:

Paint Horse Foundation “Virtual News Room”

Who’s talking about us:

Equine Chronicle
“American Paint Horse Foundation launches new
Back in the Saddle program for injured riders”

Bridle & Bit
“American Paint Horse Foundation helps injured riders”

The Prairie Star
“Tractor accident took her leg, but not her dreams”

Horsetalk / New Zealand
“Foundation helps injured riders return to the saddle”

E Barrel Racing Top News
“American Paint Horse Foundation launches new
Back in the Saddle program for injured riders”

Southwest Horse Trader
“Montana youth is first award recipient”

BarnMice
“American Paint Horse Foundation launches new
Back in the Saddle program for injured riders”

Print Publications:
Lone Star Horse Report — April 2010
Paint Horse Journal –  March 2010
more to come …

We’re taking donations online at:
Back in the Saddle Donations

Katie and Jack in the show ring.

Katie Holland enjoyed a successful horse show last week, during the “2010 Spring Classic”  in Monroe, Wash. She earned several show points and did very well at the event, which was hosted by the Pacific Northwest and  British Columbia Paint Horse Clubs.

These photos, sent in by Katie’s mom, Christine, show Katie longeing her Paint Horse, Just Bearly Cool, (aka “Jack”) and showing him in Amateur Halter. Katie also had the opportunity to visit with APHA President Linda Vance at the event.

Congratulations to Katie on a fantastic show!

Read more about this remarkable young lady and her love for horses on the Paint Horse Foundation’s virtual “News Room.”

Katie longes her horse in preparation for the show.

Trainer Scott Neuman, Katie Holland and APHA President Linda Vance at the Pacific Northwest and Brittish Columbia Paint Horse Clubs' "2010 Spring Classic" in Monroe, Wash., last week.

Two bronzes fresh from the Cowboy Bronze foundry in Missouri. Sculptor's proof is in background.

Last Friday, I had the distinct pleasure of seeing two of the first bronzes to be completed by Clay Gant of Cowboy Bronze for our Back in the Saddle program. They were two pieces, a Paint tobiano and Paint overo, that we’ll offer in an auction June 4 in Grapevine, Texas.

The bronzes were absolutely beautiful. They depict a youngster saddling up her mount, and the horse is giving some “unexpected help,” which is also the title of the piece.

I am constantly touched by people, like Clay and Betty Gant, who have donated their time, talent and money to our “Back in the Saddle” project, aimed at getting injured riders back on a horse and back on with their lives.

Clay and Betty were busy with a beautiful display at the Palomino Horse Breeders of America Convention in Fort Worth, Texas, a few days ago, but took the time to visit with me, show me their Paint Horse creations, and place them in my hands.

In addition to offering a few select pieces at auctions, we are making these bronzes available to donors of $1,000 or more to our Back in the Saddle program. This special edition is limited to only 25 pieces.

If interested, check out the Back in the Saddle donation page.

Here’s an advance look at our  “Back in the Saddle” bronze project and how this beautiful piece is coming along.

A total of only 25 limited edition "Back in the Saddle" bronzes are available for special donors who want to get injured riders back in the saddle.

Clay Gant of Cowboy Bronze is creating and donating a limited-edition series of 25 bronzes so we can get injured riders back on a horse and back on with life. A gifted and talented sculptor, Clay is pouring his heart and soul into this piece.

Donors of at least $1,000 will receive a bronze, while available.

We will use funds to pay for travel expenses to get riders to Texas for saddle fittings, help them with show clothing and tack, and generally assist with the related costs of helping them pursue their passion for riding.

Hats off to Tommy and Judy Ford of Ford Farms for jump-starting the donation process and making a generous financial gift to secure the first bronze. We’re on a roll now!

Please call or e-mail me if you’d like to secure bronzes #4 through #24 (#2 and #3 will be auctioned at a Spring fundraising dinner in Grapevine, TX, and #25 will go to a Fall auction in Nashville, TN).

You can also go online and donate today to secure your bronze.

I will visit with our sculptor while’s he’s in the Dallas/Fort Worth area next week, and I may actually see a completed bronze. More to come …

Work is underway to get Katie back in the saddle.

The latest press release about our “Back in the Saddle” program has been distributed to the equine press and I’d like to share it with you as well.

In fact, consider this an open invitation to YOU to visit our “Virtual Press Room” any time to read about the latest Foundation news.

At the top of the list will be a press release titled, “American Paint Horse Foundation launches new “Back in the Saddle” program for injured riders

I welcome your support of this project and your interest in being a part of our good news!

American Paint Horse Foundation

In my last report I told you about an exciting new project we have underway. It’s called “Back in the Saddle,” and we’re helping to fulfill the wish of an injured rider, now physically challenged, who wants to mount up and once again enjoy the world on horseback. Allow me now to introduce you to the people involved.

Katie Holland

Meet Katie Holland:

Age: 19
Hometown: Belgrade, MT
Hobbies: Horses, Horses, Horses. Education: Attending Rocky Mountain College in Billings
Goals: Ride Horses, Teach school.

Her story: Katie suffered a tragic tractor accident on Feb. 26, 2007, and had her right leg amputated, above the hip. A strong young lady, Katie fought her way back, graduating from high school, going on to college and showing horses at halter with a motorized scooter. But Katie wants to RIDE again in the show ring.

Randy Bird, of Bird Saddles.

Enter Randy Bird:

Randy is an accomplished saddle-maker and roper who suffered paralysis from the chest down, following a truck accident in 1986. That hasn’t stopped Randy, who is an inspiration to us all. Randy competed at APHA World Show in 2001, 2002, and 2005 and ranked among our top 10. He and his son, Brett, are among the best ropers around.

Randy, owner of Bird Saddles, has agreed to craft and donate a custom saddle to Katie for this project and will work with us on similar ventures in the future.

Our Goal
1. Fly Katie to Texas for a custom saddle fitting (We did that in December).
2. Get Katie’s new saddle built to specs.
3. Award Katie the new saddle at our Summer World Show, June 2010.
4. Bring Katie back to compete in that saddle at our Fall World Show, November 2010.

We need your help. Visit our Foundation Web page to make this dream a reality. Visit our  Help Katie page at Any gift is appreciated.

Note: $1,000-and-up donors receive a keepsake bronze and you can donate on-line .

Meet Clay Gant:

Clay is the owner and sculptor for Cowboy Bronze in Cross Timbers, Missouri.

Clay has agreed to create a limited edition series of special “American Paint Horse Foundation Back in the Saddle” bronzes. Donors who contribute $1,000 and up to the program will receive one of 25 inspirational bronzes, aptly titled “APHF Back in the Saddle,” depicting a youngster saddling up a horse. Clay has supported the Foundation’s therapeutic riding initiatives in the past with his beautiful bronze creations. Take a look at Clay’s progress.

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