With an enterprising club,
progressive owners and a drive to succeed, one small country became a respected player in the Paint Horse world.

To quote a famous Dutchman, “Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought ­together.” While postimpressionist painter Vincent van Gogh was most likely referring to artistic endeavors, the same could be said of Paint Horse breeders’ and ­enthusiasts’ accomplishments in the Netherlands.

While their country may be small, the Dutch have ­become a force to be reckoned with in the Paint Horse world. Outside the United States and Canada, the Netherlands ranks fourth in annual Paint registrations, APHA membership and owners, and fifth in show entries.