Arizona Sun Circuit Announces Giveaways, Added Money and Awards For the 2025 Show

From AzQHA:

Great horse shows never stop innovating and Arizona Sun Circuit never rests on its reputation. When the venerable show, the largest AQHA circuit in the country, takes over WestWorld in Scottsdale February 27 Through March 9, it will unveil yet another impressive line up of added money classes, awards, events and grand giveaways.

Creating quite a buzz this year are the 5 Axis 550s off road utility vehicles that the show will be randomly given away. Every exhibitor will be eligible to win. Worth about $10,000 a piece, these UTVs are awesome for work or play. There is also over $73,000 and counting in added money to be spread generously around the rings at Sun Circuit thanks to generous sponsors.

Trail horses will be picking their way through the poles towards a lucrative payday in the $10,000 added Snippity Snap 4 &  5 Year Old NSBA Open Trail Futurity sponsored by Snippity Snap and Kent Ray Taylor. Super Sires eligible horses will also be eligible for a concurrent payout by entering the Super Sires division with $2,500 added. Also running concurrently will be the Machine Made $2,000 Added Limited Rider division, the Champion of which will also receive a Sterling Custom Saddle sponsored by Kathy’s Show Equipment.

There is a lot of money on the line for first-timers in Trail with the $7,500 Added VS Code Blue/VS GoodRide 5 & Under Maiden Stakes Trail, with 100% of the $150 entry fee to be jackpotted. The stakes class will run concurrent with L1 Junior Trail, and horses must not have shown in any trail class prior to the 2025 Sun Circuit.

Young horses competing in Western Riding for the first time have a shot at making a name for themselves and making a paycheck in the $7,500 Added Nothin But Nett 5 and Under Maiden Stakes Western Riding. The entry fee of $150 will be 100% jackpotted and the class will run concurrent with L1 Jr Western Riding each time it occurs. Horse must enter L1 Jr. Western Riding as well as Nothin But Nett Maiden Stakes to be eligible. Horses may not have shown in Western Riding prior to the 2025 Sun Circuit.

Switching gears, the stakes are high in AQHA Roping at the 2025 Sun Circuit. A brand new event is the $10,000 Added Sun Circuit Open Roping Timed Event Challenge held March 5th. Exhibitors must have shown to all 8 judges in either the Open Heading or Open Heeling to be eligible and enter one time. An Exhibitor who has shown at least one horse to each judge in the AQHA Open Heading and has shown at least one horse to each judge in the AQHA Open Heeling may enter twice. The entry fee is $250 with 80% of that going to the jackpot. In the Timed Event Challenge, exhibitors may ride a different horse than he/she showed in AQHA classes and picks their partner.

Amateur ropers have their own Timed Event Challenge with $5,000 added. With a $250 entry fee and 80% pay back, exhibitors have the same eligibility requirements as the open: Show to all 8 judges in either Amateur Heading or Amateur Heeling and they can enter one time, or show at least one horse to all 8 judges in both Amateur Heading and Heeling and they may enter twice. They may ride a different horse than they showed and can pick their partner.

There is also an Open Breakaway Roping with $1,500 added and an Amateur Breakaway with $500 added. Both Breakaways will have 75% of the $100 entry jackpotted. Exhibitors must have shown to all judges in their respective division of AQHA breakaway classes.

ARHFA is back with thousands of dollars added to both Open and Non-Pro in their highly anticipated Sun Circuit Futurity. This event has attracted a field of very talented young horses over the past few years along with many of the biggest names in the roping world. The ability to enter the Futurities and the regularly scheduled AQHA classes is a huge bonus to exhibitors who are chasing points and looking to win money.

Sun Circuit is a magnet for all things Ranch with huge classes sizes and great competition across all levels and divisions. The L1 Open Ranch Stakes sponsored by Kristin Brock Show Horses and 13 Moonstruck rewards the top three horses combining points from L1 Ranch Trail, L1 Ranch Riding, L1 Working Western Rail along with Halter or Performance Halter. The Champion will receive $3,000 plus a Kristin Brock DHS  Ranch Saddle sponsored by Dynamite Horseman Supply. Reserve takes home $2,000 and saddle pad while third place receives $1,000 and Bronc Halter.

Bar 54 is sponsoring two Ranch Riding Derbies and adding $2,500 to each of them. Both have a $150 entry fee that is 100% jackpotted. Champion buckles and additional prizes through 5th place will be awarded center arena. The 4 Year Old Derby will run concurrent with Junior Ranch Riding on March 7 and Non Pro placings will be made from composite scores of all three judges in Amateur and Select Ranch Riding held on March 6

Cattle classes have always been a big part of Sun Circuit. Scores from cutting and cow horse are combined in a quintet of Spectaculars. Kimes Ranch is adding $2,500 to both the Junior and the Senior Spectaculars in 2025 which will also feature 100% of the entry fees jackpotted. Anchor Cross Ranch is throwing $1,000 into the pot for the Amateur Boxing Spectacular and Shadd Parkinson is sponsoring the Amateur with $1,000 added as well as the Youth Boxing Spectacular with a $1,000 added. As a special bonus for youth, All youth cutting cattle fees will be sponsored by Kimes Ranch and SJ Ranch/Cr8ive Events is sponsoring the Youth 13 and under NRCHA Boxing fees. Champions in the Spectaculars also win a buckle, while reserve takes home a pair of Sun Circuit Spurs and third place receives a bronc halter.

Anyone who wants to prove they’ve truly got cow will be entering the AZ Golden Cowboy. With $2,500 added and a great line up of prizes…not to mention the bragging rights…this is always a fun event to enter and for fans to follow. Cowboys and cowgirls test their skills in Herd Work, Muley steer stopping and Cow Horse. Cushing Performance Horses is sponsoring the popular event and 100% of the $250 entry fee is jackpotted. In addition to cash payouts, the champion will receive a buckle, Reserve wins a saddle pad and third gets a bronc halter.

Moving over to Rail classes, there is $2,000 added to the Never Have I Ever Non-Pro Western Pleasure sponsored by Kent Ray Taylor. To be eligible, the rider may not have earned more than $1,500 in lifetime earnings and horse may not have more than $1,500 in Western Pleasure earnings.

NSBA Futurity classes include $2,500 Novice Horse – 3 yr old Western Pleasure with $1,000 added sponsored by Gil Galyean Quarter Horses. Galyean is also sponsoring the 3 Year Old Western Pleasure with $1,000 added and 3 and 4 Year Old Ltd. Non-Pro Western Pleasure adding $500 to the pot.  Rounding out pleasure futurities, there is 3 and 4 Year Old Non-Pro Western Pleasure with $500 added. Ogden Ranch is sponsoring two Hunter Under Saddle Futurities. The 3 & 4 Year Old Open and Non Pro each have $1,000 added.

Super Sires is back in Scottsdale with a slate of $2,500 added futurities. Horses must be by an eligible Super Sires Stallion and nominated to the Super Sires program. Their offerings include L1 Jr Western Riding, L1 Sr Western Riding, L1 Jr Trail, L1 Sr Trail and L1 Open Western Pleasure, and L1 Hunter Under Saddle along with the Super Sires division of the Snippity Snap 4 & 5 Year old Trail. Super Sires Futurities run concurrent with the respective L1 AQHA class.

In addition to cash, there is a fantastic prize line. A total of 38 saddles will be awaiting exhibitors in the Awards Booth in 2025. Circuit award winners in Reining and Cow Horse will win Jeff Smith saddles. Trail champions will pack home a Superior Saddle as will Amateurs and L1 Youth Horsemanship champions. The circuit champion in Youth Horsemanship will win a Blue Ribbon saddle. There are also High Point award saddles for Ranch, Non Pro English, Green Horse, Roping and Versatility Ranch Horse.

The ever popular Best of Show Rod Patrick Boots awards are back again with both All Around and Reining and Cattle divisions for Open, Amateur and Youth. Open exhibitors have points tallied for one horse while Amateur and Youth accumulate points based on a one horse/one rider pairing.

Custom crafted rings from Sami Fine Jewelry will be presented to Ranch High Point Champions in L1 Open, Junior, Senior, L1 Amateur, Amateur, Select and Am Walk/Trot. Scores will be combined from Ranch Riding, Ranch Trail and Working Western Rail inthe respective divisions.

Non-Pro High Point awards for L1, L2 and L3 feature a Harris Leather and Silver Headstall sponsored by Harris Leather and Silverworks for the Champion. Reserve will receive Sun Circuit Spurs Sponsored by Avila Stable/Professionals Choice Bob Avila Collection. Points will be based on one horse, one rider and tallied from Showmanship, Western Pleasure, Horsemanship, Halter and Performance halter.

Kimes Ranch has the youngest riders covered with a High Point Small Fry Walk/Trot Ranch award and a High Point 13 and Under Ranch Award. Champions receive a buckle and a $500 gift certificate from Kimes Ranch. Reserve will win a $250 gift certificate.

All exhibitors entered in the AQHA Amateur, Select and Youth 14-18  Showmanship, Horsemanship and Equitation will be eligible to compete for the 2025 National Champion title and finalist honors. The tournament style competition names the top 16, 8 and 4 exhibitors progressively through the regularly scheduled AQHA classes and divisions. The top Four will be invited back for head to head match ups to determine the Champions. All exhibitors who make it to The Four receive logo’d jackets and the Champion wins a buckle.

Sun Circuit isn’t just about competition, though. There is plenty of fun going on around the arenas with Prize Patrol giving away thousands of dollars worth of electronics, along with hats, boots, chaps, western wear, jewelry, massages, feed, supplements and more donated by generous sponsors and vendors. Games and challenges can pop up anywhere in the barns, vendor areas or arenas. Also, be watching on FB and listening to announcement for the Word of the Day. Claiming your reward is as simple as finding the Prize Patrol cart and telling them the Word.

And of course the hands-down most popular class of all, Lead Line, will be back. Also be sure to find the free coffee & donut cart as it makes the rounds each morning.

Anyone looking to purchase a horse may find just what they are looking for at Sun Circuit. The Hershberger Performance Horse Sale takes place on Friday, February 28 in the Equidome at WestWorld with a preview on Thursday. The Hershberger sale is well known for presenting a solid slate of rope horses. However, buyers will also see reiners, cutters and cow horses as well as horses suited for Ranch Riding, Ranch Trail or VRH classes.

Complete details, schedules and award criteria can be found at suncircuit.com.