Everything You Need to Know About the Arizona Fall Championship!
By: Kristin Spinning
The Arizona Fall Championship rolls into WestWorld in Scottsdale, AZ a little earlier on the show calendar for 2017 with dates of September 20th through 24th. The show takes full advantage of the fantastic expansion of WestWorld facilities by holding most classes indoors or under cover.
The All Around and rail classes will be held in the North Hall’s two climate controlled arenas. Spacious, bright, and outfitted with excellent footing, these arenas were a big hit with exhibitors at Sun Circuit in March. Cow Horse, Roping, Reining, and Ranch Riding will show next door in the Equidome with its indoor warm-up paddock and ample spectator seating. The AzFC also offers its full slate of VRH classes under the shade of covered arena 5A. On Friday, that arena becomes a practice pen for cattle fence work. The 2016 Arizona Fall Championship saw an explosion of entries over the prior year. Organizers took that into account when designing this year’s schedule so that great show days don’t turn into long nights. The schedule also benefits youth exhibitors with those busy school schedules. All Youth classes will be held Friday through Sunday.
The AzFC is known as “The Show For Everyone.” The show has been committed to welcoming all levels of exhibitor and creating an environment that’s simultaneously first-class, fun, and exhibitor friendly. No matter your level of expertise, there is a level in which to show, and great rewards for winning. Scottsdale Performance Saddles sponsored by Scottsdale Western World will be given to the Non Pro High Point champs in Level 1, Level 2 and in Level 3. Classes that will be counted for these awards include the appropriate level or age division of Showmanship, Horsemanship, Western Pleasure, and Halter or Performance Halter. The coveted Championship bronze horse trophies will be awarded once again in all AQHA classes that show to 6 judges. Logo outerwear will be awarded to 2nd through 5th places in each circuit.
The enthusiasm for Versatility Ranch Horse classes at the Fall Championship has steadily grown, as have the offerings. AzQHA CEO and show producer Doug Huls is adamant about promoting VRH on an equal footing with the traditional roster of AQHA show classes as a way to expand the overall interest in the AQHA show experience. Accordingly, Ranch classes will be presenting first-rate awards as well. VRH Trail and VRH Conformation exhibitors will show to six judges with Circuit Champions receiving bronze trophies and 2nd through 5th place circuit awards. Ranch exhibitors also have a shot at one of two awesome saddle awards. The All Around Open Ranch Champion will be awarded a Leson Classic Saddle sponsored by Leson Saddles. Classes that can be counted for this award include VRH Trail, Ranch Riding, Ranch on the Rail, VRH Conformation and Open Halter or Open Performance Halter classes. The Amateur All Around Ranch Champion will receive a Jeff Smith saddle. Points from Amateur VRH Trail, Ranch Riding, Ranch on the Rail, VRH Conformation and Amateur Halter or Performance Halter classes will be tallied for that award.
A big draw year after year at the AzFC has been the Cattle classes. This year there will be AQHA Cutting as well as VRH Cutting, and two slates of NRCHA and AzRCHA approved will run concurrent with AQHA Cow Horse classes. Open, Amateur, and Youth Ropers will have their turn in the Equidome as well. Several NSBA Futurities await exhibitors this year. There will be a 2-year-old Open Western Pleasure, 3-year-old Open Western Pleasure, 3-year-old Non Pro Western Pleasure, 2-year-old Open Hunter Under Saddle, 3-year-old Open Hunter Under Saddle and 3-year-old Non Pro Hunter Under Saddle. There will also be a 3 and 4-Year-Old Trail Futurity.
One of the highlight special events will be the #13 USTPC Trail Challenge on Friday, September 22nd, sponsored by Holly Hover and Chas Roberts Air Conditioning. This team event builds camaraderie pairing amateur and pro riders, often from across barns, in a highly spirited, supportive environment. There is a 100% payback along with added money, and a guarantee of $1,000 to the winning team. Payouts will be made in two tiers, and there is a judges’ choice ride off. Interested riders should contact Holly Hover. She will even help novice trail exhibitors find a perfect partner.
The Arizona Quarter Horse Association will offer an Interscholastic Championship Invitational for AzQHYA and IEA members at the 2017 Arizona Fall Championship show. There will be three classes of Horsemanship and one Reining class for 6th- 8th grade students. Additionally, there will be four classes of Horsemanship and two Reining classes for 9th-12th grade students. Each of the 10 classes will award $1,000 worth of scholarships. AzQHA will also be awarding another $5,000 worth of scholarships in honor of Joe and Suzy Jeane at the show. These scholarships will be awarded to AzQHYA members who will be interviewed at the show. Be sure to check AzQHA.org for details on the Joe and Suzy Jeane scholarships and more information on the ASCENT Scholarship program. Many thanks to Dr. Joni Hegel for sponsoring the AzQHYA scholarships!
The show’s legendary giveaways enhance its reputation for fun. The Prize Patrol is already hard at work devising interesting challenges for a treasure trove of goodies. From riding challenges to trivia challenges, from hard luck exhibitor awards to random back number draws, the prizes just keep flowing. There is so much offered and so much to win at the Arizona Fall Championship; it delivers a very good value for your showing time and dollars. Exhibitors can chose the All Show Fee option of $450 for as many AQHA classes (except cutting) as they want. Or for those with a more limited focus, they can opt for a per class entry fee. Any way you look at it, this show has you covered and WestWorld is definitely the place to be in September 2017.
Visit azfallchampionship.com for all the details, awards criteria, and entries.
