Western Pleasure Horses Prove They Can Do More Than Go Low and Slow During AZ. Sun Circuit Horse Race

By: Brittany Bevis

The Sun Circuit Prize Patrol was on the prowl this weekend at WestWorld in Scottsdale, AZ. From a boot race in Youth Reining that challenged kids to run, slide, and spin without their horses to an Unassisted Mounting Challenge in Performance Halter, both the young, and young at heart, had the opportunity to win some fantastic prizes.

Shelby Clausen was the winner of the Youth Reining Boot Race and was presented with a 48″ screen TV. During the Junior and Senior Ranch Riding, competitors were challenged to a Backwards Race for the chance to win a South Texas Tack Saddle. Horses and riders faced the center of the pen before spinning a 180 and backing across the length of the arena. Cody Cowdell was named the Sun Circuit Backwards Race Champion and won the saddle.

In Youth Performance Halter, a 50″ flat screen TV went to Joshua Briggs for his skills at mounting his horse unassisted from the ground the fastest. Livvie Van Lanen placed second and received a $250 gift certificate from CR Ranch Wear. Valerie Williams won the Arizona Trivia Contest during Novice Amateur Hunter Under Saddle and was presented with a PJ English Saddle courtesy of Greenway Saddlery.

By far the highlight of the weekend took place when the Sun Circuit Prize Patrol arrived at The Equine Chronicle arena to hold a boot race during the Senior Western Pleasure class. The prize up for grabs was a 100X hat from Shorty’s Caboy Hattery. Someone suggested a horse race instead and, before anyone could think twice, eight horses reentered the ring to prove that they could do more than just go low and slow.

“The crowd was ecstatic to see some of the best Western Pleasure horses in the country, along with an A-list of trainers, in a flat out gallop around the arena,” says Sun Circuit Media Manager Kristin Spinning. “Down the back stretch and around the final turn, three horses were surging ahead to the finish line. Andrew Sharp took it by a half a length aboard A Certain Amiga with Shane Dowdy hot on his heels on Invited Tonite.”

Scroll below to view some hilarious photos from the horse race, courtesy of Kristin Spinning.

Click here to view the latest results from the 2016 Arizona Sun Circuit.

Check out the Photo Gallery section of EquineChronicle.com to view all of Gordon’s daily around the ring photos.