The Pinto Heritage Foundation was founded to preserve and support the Pinto horse and the heritage that comes with it. Part of this includes preserving the past of the Pinto through our Pinto Heritage Museum. The museum is located in our National Office here in Bethany, Oklahoma. The Pinto Heritage Museum displays artifacts, along with other memorabilia, even before the Pinto Horse Association of America was founded in 1956.
Mahlon Bauman, a PtHA past president and currently on the Pinto Heritage Foundation board, began to get involved with the Pinto Horse Association in the 1980s. Her family was looking for a place to show horses that had a family aspect to the environment. She was involved with building the Minnesota charter. She later became a national director attending national and local pinto horse shows where she was able to find other families with the same values and interests.
“The purpose of the Pinto Heritage Foundation is to preserve the history of our breed, through the use of the Pinto Heritage Museum housed at the office headquarters,” said Mahlon Bauman, Pinto Heritage Foundation board member. “We also have an incredible scholarship program for our youth and continue to be resource for members interested in learning where we came from.”
Orren Mixer included Pintos in his artwork so Pintos can always be recognized in the world of art, Bauman said.
“We are philanthropic centered as we partner with organizations for programs and want to support those coming into our association,” Bauman said. There is satisfaction in knowing that PtHA scholarships are filled to be self-sustaining, and what they are giving helps our youth members year after year, Bauman explained.
New members were added Bauman explained, “We just welcomed Jenny LaGrange and Shaun Merkens onto the Pinto Heritage Foundation board.” Bauman also recognized Joe Grissom as he was calm and gentle when he led the Pinto Heritage Foundation over the years and filling his shoes will be hard with his passing.
Annie Giovanni has recently taken over as Pinto Heritage Foundation President and has really stepped into her new role, Bauman said. The Pinto Heritage Foundation also decided to give scholarships out to the horse judging and speech contest winners at the Pinto World Championship this summer in June, Bauman said.
“This is a new scholarship for youth, and they do not have to be seniors to receive this scholarship,” Bauman said.
Every year at convention PtHA inducts people and equine into the Pinto Hall of Fame. “We are fortunate to say several of those in our hall of fame were the first in our industry,” Bauman said.
“Being recognized into the PtHA Hall of Fame is really a great honor, as someone thought of you to nominate,” Bauman said. “Then the reviewers thought you were worthy of recognition and have made an impact in our industry.”
Bauman was PtHA president and served from 2008-2010. She served the last two-year term as president as the president’s term is now for one year.
The executive committee structure also changed, Bauman explained, “The executive committee came to consist of seven members, including the past president.”
One thing Bauman applauded in the Pinto Heritage Foundation is the utilization of the past presidents.
“After our presidential term is over, serving as the past president gives us an opportunity to still be involved,” Bauman said.
For anyone interested in starting their own scholarship program Bauman would say, “Gather all your friends and let them know about it so you can build your scholarship quickly.”
PtHA youth members appreciate everyone’s efforts and investments into their future, the scholarships really do make a difference, Bauman explained. The foundation accepts in-kind and monetary donations, Bauman explained. For further information about donations, please visit the Pinto Heritage Foundation page on our website. Bauman would like to thank the Foundation board members who show up to events and help, sit in on meetings and are committed to continuing the good work.
