Get the Scoop on EVERYTHING NEW For 2016 Arizona Sun Circuit
By: Kristin Spinning
The 2016 Arizona Sun Circuit will take place January 9-17, two weeks earlier than usual. This time slot places it prior to the Barrett-Jackson Auto Auction and the Phoenix Open PGA golf tournament that are also held at West World. It seems like everyone wants to play in the sun in Scottsdale, and that has caused challenges in past years.
“Overall, the response has been really good,” says Doug Huls, event producer. “The change is due to scheduling at West World. This frees up many resources for us.” The dates also place it directly following the Arizona National Livestock Show, which hosts a Quarter Horse show January 4-7. In total, the back-to-back events offer exhibitors 11 AQHA shows in a two-week time period. That certainly gets the New Year off with a bang. One could quite possible qualify for the World Show before the first month of 2016 is over!
While its reputation for excellent competition and bountiful points are a steady draw, Sun Circuit delivers a fantastic show experience on many levels. The expansive facilities allow many classes to be held simultaneously, from Cow Horse on one end to Jumping on the other and with plenty of warm up areas in between. Add in awesome prizes, grand give-aways, loads of added money, free clinics, and free parties, and the 2016 Sun Circuit is set to impress. The show is able to offer so much because of the continued generous support of its sponsors. The Equine Chronicle is the presenting sponsor for 2016, as it has been for a number of years. The City of Scottsdale has also provided enormous support throughout the history of the show, while the hugely popular special events, parties, and clinics are underwritten by a myriad of individuals and companies.
Added money classes in 2016 include $5,000 Legend High Score Trail Exhibitor, $2,500 Equine Sports Medicine High Score Western Riding Exhibitor, and Equine Sports Medicine High Score Western Pleasure Exhibitor. The immensely popular Fence Work Challenge will return to the Equidome Saturday the 16th with $2,500 added to the Open division sponsored by Cushing Performance Horses. Additionally, $500 will be paid to the high placing NRCHA limited open rider in the open division. Rogers Heaven Sent Ranch will be sponsoring the $2,500 added Junior and Senior Bridle Spectaculars for horses competing in Cutting and Cow Horse. Farnam picks up the reins sponsoring the $2,000 added Amateur Bridle Spectacular, while Parkinson Performance Horses is adding $1,000 to the Amateur Boxing Spectacular. Roping action heats up with cowboys and girls chasing down $5,000 added money in the Cinch Timed Event Challenge Roping. Junior Ranch Riding will have $500 added each day. Bella Vista Ranch wants to recognize the best All-Around cowboys with $1,000 awarded to the highest scoring amateur and open rider.
Center ring at The Equine Chronicle Arena, NSBA horses have a shot at Sun Circuit earnings as well. Added money classes include $1,000 added NSBA 3 Yr. Old Futurity, $500 added NSBA 3 Yr. Old Non Pro Futurity, $1,000 Added NSBA 3 Yr. Old Hunter under Saddle, and $250 added 3 Yr. Old Non Pro Hunter under Saddle, and $500 will be added for each day of NSBA Green Hunter Under Saddle.
Friday the 8th will be SmartPak Trail Day. Don’t miss Jim and Deanna Searles, Jason Martin, and Charlie Cole, who will be giving a free Trail clinic. You can get more than winning tips from these pros. SmartPak will be giving a complete trail course to one lucky attendee. At noon on Friday, Holly Hover Performance Horses and Chas Roberts Air Conditioning will be hosting the $3,000 added USTPC Horsemanship Challenge.
In addition to all the lively action in the arenas, Sun Circuit will once again offer a wealth of educational opportunities with free clinics throughout the show sponsored by Farnam. To kick things off, on Friday the 8th there will be a Bob Avila clinic open to everyone in the Markel Insurance Arena at 5PM. Every year, Farnam comes with some grand giveaways for those in attendance! Other clinics are scheduled with Brad Barkemeyer, Leonard Berryhill, Corey Cushing, Debbie Cooper, Holly Hover, and Gary Roberts.
The ever-popular lunch and dinner parties are on the schedule as well. The Johns, Tobin and Searles families will be hosting the Annual Welcome Party. AQHA stallions Definitely All That/Indefinate, Machine Made, and Mechanic will each be hosting a free lunch party for exhibitors during the show. Visit with their owners to see what these stallions offer the industry.
There are very few horse show venues situated in such a wonderful location as WestWorld and with an exhibitor friendly schedule that allows plenty of time for enjoying all that Scottsdale has to offer. Show management is making it easy to spend even more time in Scottsdale this winter. Exhibitors who plan to show at both Arizona Nationals and Sun Circuit will be allowed to keep their same stalls for both circuits. That convenience will not affect Sun Circuit only exhibitors, sponsor’s permanent stall assignments will remain.
It’s clear that Sun Circuit remains the best way to launch the show year. With a slight adjustment of dates, 2016 will offer more shows, more hotels, more prizes, and more fun.
