Tantalizing Trail Extravaganza Awaits at Arizona Fall Championship

By: Kristin Spinning

Poles, poles and more poles! If you show in Trail, you won’t want to miss the fun, challenging, and rewarding courses at the 2015 Arizona Fall Championship this October in Scottsdale. Exhibitors of all levels have a shot at winning cash and great awards for navigating the trail courses designed by Tim Kimura.

Championship bronze trophies will be awarded in each Trail division. These trophies are truly eye-catching, mounted on a slate base along with an AzFC medal. Additionally, Level 2 riders have a chance to take home a beautiful saddle. One Scottsdale Performance saddle will be awarded to the horse with cumulative high score of either L2 Amateur Select Trail or L2 Amateur Trail

Show for the Money

Added money classes include the $500 added 3-year-old Trail Futurity. Amateur riders can maneuver their way towards a paycheck with $500 added to Level 2 Amateur Trail, Level 3 Amateur Trail, Level 2 Amateur Select Trail, and Level 3 Amateur Select Trail. Junior horses of all levels can compete for cash awards as well. $1,000 is being added to Level 1, 2 and 3 of Junior Trail.

There will also be a USTPC Trail Challenge open to all levels of horse and rider. This is a class in which two person teams ride the pattern for a combined score. The High-Scoring team will win at least $1,000. Last year’s USTPC challenge winner took home $1,200! Additional payouts will be awarded, as determined by the final number of entrants. For an added twist, there will be a ‘Judge’s Choice’ showdown. The judge will pick two riders who will square off for the high score and additional added money.

The USTPC handicaps riders and encourages riders of different abilities to work together and have fun with ability to win prizes and money. Each rider is assigned a number from 4 to 9, based on the number of AQHA points they have accumulated. Riders may select a partner or can be assigned one. The partner’s combined numbers must be 13 or below. Each rider then performs the required pattern and is given a judge’s score from 0-100. The team’s combined scores determine placings. Event coordinator Holly Hover and sponsor Chas Roberts Heating and Air Conditioning will be putting together lots of prizes for the competitors as well.

This year’s Challenge course will include an option obstacle where riders can choose which obstacle to do: the conservative obstacle with a lower total point maximum, or the challenge obstacle that can score a higher total point maximum. Another twist to this year’s event will be the buyback option. If you don’t like the run you completed, you may buy another run for $25. However, if you buyback, you must keep the score of your buyback run! All of the funds will be put into the paybacks to give exhibitors even more to show for.

For a listing of all awards, prizes and eligibility, visit AzFallChampionship.com