Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show

The Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show is the world's largest Arabian horse show, held annually in Scottsdale, Arizona. Beginning in 1955, the show has grown from 50 horses and a dozen trainers/owners to more than 2200 horses and over 1300 owners. Called the "Super Bowl of the Arabian World", it represents the first leg in the Arabian Triple Crown, the other two major competitions being the Canadian and U.S. National Arabian Championships. In addition to the competition, the show acts as a fundraiser for the Arabian Horse Association of Arizona, which has donated millions of dollars to charity from the proceeds of the show.

Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show
Main Ring at WestWorld
Sanctioning bodyArabian Horse Association
Second sanctioning bodyUnited States Equestrian Federation
LocationScottsdale, Arizona
HeldAnnually each February
Length10 days
SponsorsArabian Horse Association of Arizona
Inaugurated1955
Breeds shownArabian and Part-Arabian horses
Number of entries≈Tooltip Approximation2,300
Websitehttp://www.scottsdaleshow.com

The show

The first show was held in 1955 at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel, and was composed of approximately 50 horses from twelve farms. Anne McCormick, one of the founders, donated 150 acres of her ranch in Scottsdale so that the show could have a permanent home, naming it Paradise Park, and it remained there for many years before moving to its present location, WestWorld.[1] The Arabian Horse Association of Arizona, with Ed Tweed as their president, sponsored the first show, which was then called the "All-Arabian Horse Show".[2]

It is the largest Arabian horse show in the world,[3] and one of the largest breed shows in the world.[1] The show is sanctioned by the United States Equestrian Federation and the Arabian Horse Association.[4] Called the "Super Bowl of the Arabian world", 2015 version marked the 60th anniversary of the show.[5] The Diamond Jubilee of the event featured more than 2250 horses, and over $1 million in prize money,[6] with over 1300 farms represented.[1] The overall prize money increased to $3 million in 2021.[7] It is the first of three legs of the "Arabian Triple Crown", the other two being the Canadian National Arabian Championship and the U.S. Nationals.[8]

As of 2015, the show consisted of competition in multiple divisions: Mounted Native Costume; Breeding/Halter; Dressage; Driving; working western (Reining, cutting, Working cow horse), English Pleasure (including show hack, park horse, and country English pleasure); Hunter/Jumper and hunter under saddle; Liberty (featuring a horse running free with accompanying music); and Western Pleasure as well as a youth division for most classes.[9][6] The top prize of the show is "Scottsdale Supreme Halter Champion".[10] This prize is given both to a mare and a stallion champion.[11] Crowds at the event have exceeded 200,000.[6] In 2015, over 320,000 visitors attended the 11 days of the event, with an additional 450,000 viewers around the world over a live television feed.[12] A unique feature of the show is the user-friendly instructions which allow spectators to better understand the scoring system of the judges.[6]

The Halter championships are the highlight of the Scottsdale show

The event brings about $52 million to the Scottsdale economy.[13] In 2013, the WestWorld facility underwent a $47 million facelift, which included indoor air-conditioned arenas.[14][15]

In January 2015, the City of Scottsdale's WestWorld and The Arabian Horse Association of Arizona entered into an agreement to hold the show at WestWorld for the next 20 years.[16] The show is highlighted in some of the colder climates as a way to get into warmer weather during the freezing temperatures of February in the northern U.S.[17] In 2014, WestWorld unveiled a new light sculpture entitled "Impulsion", which was commissioned at a cost of $470,000. The statue is 40 feet long and 30 feet high, weighs over 1000 pounds, and was the work of Scottsdale artist Jeff Zischke.[18]

Aside from the prizes for the competitors, the show is also a fundraiser for charities. Since its inception, the show has raised millions of dollars for such organizations as the Cox Charities and the March of Dimes.[19]

Competition

See also

References
  1. Jackson, Lorraine (February 13, 2015). "Here's Your Link to the Live Feed of the 60th Annual Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show". Horse Nation. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
  2. Haller, Sonja (July 1, 2013). "Arabian ranch in Scottsdale considered for historical status". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
  3. "60th Annual Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show". iEquine.com. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
  4. Haller, Sonja (February 20, 2014). "Scottsdale veterinarian keeps competitors healthy at Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
  5. Haller, Sonja (February 11, 2015). "7 things to look for at Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
  6. Haller, Sonja (February 13, 2015). "Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show more user friendly, adds events". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
  7. "The 66th Annual Scottsdale Arabian Horseshow Returns to WestWorld". Arizona Foothills Magazine. January 27, 2021. Retrieved January 1, 2022. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  8. "54th Annual Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show at WestWorld this February 12–22". HorseChannel.com. August 13, 2013. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
  9. Haller, Sonja. "7 reasons to ride out to the Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show, 2/15-25". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved 2022-01-02.
  10. "54th Annual Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show at WestWorld this February 12–22". Scottsdale.com. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
  11. "Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show, February 12-22, 2015" (PDF). Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
  12. Hunziker, Beth Ellen. "The 2015 Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show". Horseman's News. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
  13. Cole, Dana (February 4, 2015). "Virus could cause economic hit to Arizona's horse events". Arizona Range News. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
  14. Haller, Sonja (February 12, 2014). "Arabian horse folk loving new Scottsdale WestWorld digs". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
  15. Duckett, Beth (October 16, 2013). "WestWorld to unveil larger, better center". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
  16. "City Council Report, Item 17". City of Scottsdale. January 13, 2015. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
  17. Backenheimer, Margaret (January 19, 2015). "With February events, no reason to freeze". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
  18. Haller, Sonja (December 15, 2014). "Scottsdale WestWorld wows with unveiling of horse sculpture". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
  19. "Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show Arrives!". Scottsdale Airpark. February 6, 2014. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
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