2026 Pinnacle Circuit & AQHA West L1: Two Great Shows, One Incredible Location

By Kristen Spinning for Arizona Quarter Horse Association:

The back-to-back Pinnacle Circuit and AQHA West L1 Championships at South Point Arena in Las Vegas May 6-16 delivered a show experience that people will long remember after the trailers are unpacked. Both shows saw significant increases in horses and entries, yet remained smooth running and exhibitor friendly. Descriptors such as “it’s so fun,” and “everyone is so welcoming” floated in the air every day. Bountiful smiles and horse hugs reiterated those sentiments.

The Pinnacle Circuit offered a full slate of classes at all levels, and many L1 exhibitors took advantage of that schedule, showing first in Pinnacle as a warm-up for the L1 Championships that followed. Having the two shows together allowed trainers to bring more people from their barn when hauling to Vegas, and the schedules complimented each other very well. Exhibitors love the Pinnacle as a national level type show, held in a fabulous facility, with all the prestige and excitement that accompanies that sort of experience.

The show notched 512 horses and 393 exhibitors, racking up 6,300 AQHA and an additional 1,500 NSBA entries. Large classes resulted in stiff competition and well-earned awards. Along with Circuit Awards, All Around awards included $500 to most High Point Champions, while Small Fry and Walk/Trot received buckles.

Doug Huls, AzQHA CEO and Pinnacle Circuit show director, comments, “I was very pleased with the Pinnacle turnout and the format of the show. People felt like they had just enough room to get ready in the warm up pens. The facility will always be somewhat limiting because of the number of arenas we have to work with, yet we were still able to pull off a really nice Pinnacle with strong entry numbers.”

When the event transitioned to the AQHA West L1 Championships, the open horses and L2/L3 riders may have left, but the fun and excitement did not diminish. With nearly 500 exhibitors and 526 horses, the L1 Championship saw 5,037 entries. Exhibitors came from across the western states, plus the East Coast and Canada.

This year, 137 exhibitors were brand new to the L1 Championship experience. The overarching sentiment was that despite the size, the show ran efficiently and staff kept everyone well informed and easily flowing through the arenas. The friendly atmosphere projected by both exhibitors and staff made everyone feel welcome and supported, achieving one of AQHA’s primary objectives for their Level 1 shows.

South Point’s all in one facilities go a long way to promote a Champion level experience. The stadium style arenas were the perfect venue to recognize the top 15 exhibitors in grand fashion with an awards ceremony at the conclusion of each class. Exhibitors won medals, ribbons, jacket patches, belt buckles and gift certificates, and ultimately, custom trophies presented through 3rd place. Champions were encouraged to hoist their trophies high for a victory lap around the arena. Joy flooded the out gate’s kiss and cry area when exhibitors realized their hard work and dedication paid off, no matter what the placing. On the last day, the center arena also saw AQHA and NSBA presentations for All Around and High Point trophies across divisions.

To help exhibitors show at their best in pattern classes, AQHA Professional Horsemen volunteered their time to give free Ride the Pattern clinics, presented by Nutrena. The nightly clinics dissected the approach and follow through of each maneuver for Walk/Trot, Rookie, Amateur, and Select patterns. Exhibitors could ask questions to ensure they completely understood the judges’ expectations.

Because horse shows need some fun outside of the arena as well, the Pinnacle’s Got Talent competition returned this year during Monday’s L1 Championship Dinner Party. Ten acts stepped onto the stage to perform live in front of a 3 member panel of judges and the assembled crowd. The final performance of the evening featured last year’s runner-up, Cavannah Hansen. When she hit the high notes of her song’s refrain with clarity and power, the crowd roared in appreciation. Three perfect 10s from the judges won her an E-Bike.

With another successful pair of shows in the books, plans are already underway for next year. Huls comments, “We know we will not grow any further because this year we sold out the stalls. That is our limiting factor. We will not be bringing in temporary stalls in the future. For next year, we look forward to managing both shows as efficiently and effectively as possible to maintain the highest level of experience for exhibitors. Thanks to our super staff, I think we pulled off two fantastic shows pretty well. It can only get better.” For exhibitors wanting to show next year, the advice is to make stall reservations early, as all indications are that these two shows will sell out again in 2027.

Pinnacle Circuit results can be found at pinnaclecircuit.com/pinnacle-circuit/

 

2026 Level 1 West All Arounds, High Points, And Special Awards

 

L1 Amateur All Around

Abigail Merschman & Money Gate

 

L1 Select All Around

Ashley S Mossman & Touch N Go Show

 

L1 Youth 13 & Under All Around

Leah Nim & Only One More Drink

 

L1 Youth 14-18 All Around

Bailey Saenz & If Only In My Dreams

 

Rookie Amateur High Point

Patricia Schuster & Zipped By Blue

 

Rookie Youth High Point

Leah Nim & Only One More Drink

 

L1 Amateur Walk Trot High Point

Chelsea Bagby & Aintikindamightty

 

L1 Youth Walk Trot High Point

Kenzie Honea & Overdue To Be Invitd

 

Small Fry High Point

Kennedy Grace Wright & Km Three Bars Down

 

Youth Top AQHA Ranching Heritage-Bred Horse

Disturbing The Peace & Sophia Lynn Ciancio

 

Amateur Top AQHA Ranching Heritage-Bred Horse

Ill Be A Dual Cat & Marci Carlson

 

Full placings can be found at www.aqha.com/level-1-west-results