The Sun Circuit is a Resounding Success!

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186 – May/June, 2017

By Kristen Spinning

The Arizona Sun Circuit had the most entries in its 44-year history with nearly 18,500 AQHA class entries and 21,479 over all entries. More classes, more horses, more sunshine, more arenas, and more prizes resulted in more points, more smiles, and more happy exhibitors. Once again, the Arizona Quarter Horse Association has managed to take a wildly successful show and make it even better. The quality of the competition was outstanding, and the atmosphere exuded fun.

The show enjoyed the kind of March weather the City of Scottsdale brags about in glossy magazine ads with picture perfect blue skies and technicolor sunsets. The continued expansion of the outstanding West World Equestrian complex offered new venues for exhibitors. The Sun Circuit used two brand new, climate-controlled arenas in the North Hall of the Equidome. An adjacent warm-up pen was very convenient and made the perfect staging area. Exhibitors, judges, and staff alike loved the North Hall. AzQHA CEO Doug Huls was very excited about the additional facilities and was already looking toward the future, commenting, “between the North Hall and the main Equidome, we will be able to offer most all of our classes indoors at the AZ Fall Championship this September.”

An astonishing amount of prizes, awards, and giveaways were distributed across all levels. A total of 36 saddles were awarded in events including Reining, Roping, Cow Horse, Trail, Western Pleasure, All Around, and Versatility Ranch Horse. L1 Champions received custom designed rings from Sami Fine Jewelry and other awards included Air Ride Pads, trophies, embroidered sheets, Rod Patrick Ostrich boots, gift certificates and trophies. Over $55,000 in added money was on the line as well across a number of classes from Roping and Cow Horse to Jumping and Western Pleasure.

Sun Circuit offered a full slate of Versatility Ranch Horse classes during the first weekend for both AQHA and all breeds. The classes enjoyed very enthusiastic participation with large numbers, especially among amateurs. A Scottsdale Performance Saddle was awarded to the All Breed Amateur Champion Sarah McKibben and Chex Are Cashin. Ranch Riding and Ranch on the Rail classes also demonstrated their continued popularity with extremely large class numbers. As many as 59 amateurs and 55 open entries worked the pattern.

Sun Circuit also featured a NSBA Futurity Day with four Hunter Under Saddle and four Western Pleasure futurities. It was a tightly matched field in the 3- & 4-Year-Old $1,000 Novice Horse Open Western Pleasure class. After lengthy scrutiny, the judges’ placings found How About Later with David Archer riding for Ryan and Andrea Kail tied for 1st with Mouse N Around, owned by Tommie Prichard and shown by Angie Cannizzaro. Both winners added $4,260 to their NSBA winnings tally. Made In The Shade, owned by Natasha Blanchard, showed consistency taking top honors in both the 3- & 4-YearOld Limited Non-Pro and the 3-Year-Old Open Western Pleasure. The non-pro ride earned $2,882 while the open class paid $624.

Click here to read the complete article
186 – May/June, 2017