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 - 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 five Axis 550s off-road utility vehicles that the show will be randomly giving away. Every exhibitor will be eligible to win. Worth about $10,000 each, these UTVs are awesome for work or play. There is also more than $73,000 in added money to be spread generously around the rings at Sun Circuit thanks to generous sponsors.
Following The Trail
Trail horses will be picking their way through the poles towards a lucrative payday in the $10,000 added Snippity Snap Four & Five Year Old NSBA Open Trail Futurity, sponsored by Snippity Snap and Kent Ray Taylor. Super Sires enrolled 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 Five & Under Maiden Stakes Trail, with 100 percent of the $150 entry fee to be jackpotted. The stakes class will run concurrent with Level 1 Junior Trail, and horses must not have shown in any Trail class prior to the 2025 Sun Circuit.
Western Riding Sees Added Money
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 Five and Under Maiden Stakes Western Riding. The entry fee of $150 will be 100 percent jackpotted and the class will run concurrent with Level 1 Junior Western Riding each time it occurs. Horse must enter Level 1 Junior 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.
All Things Ranch
Sun Circuit is a magnet for all things Ranch, with huge classes sizes and great competition across all levels and divisions. The Level 1 Open Ranch Stakes sponsored by Kristin Brock Show Horses and 13 Moonstruck rewards the top three horses combining points from Level 1 Ranch Trail, Level 1 Ranch Riding, Level 1 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 percent jackpotted. Champion buckles and additional prizes through fifth place will be awarded center arena. The Four 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.
On The Rail
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 to be eligible
NSBA Futurity classes include $2,500 Novice Horse - Three Year Old Western Pleasure with $1,000 added, sponsored by Gil Galyean Quarter Horses. Gil Galyean is also sponsoring the Three Year Old Western Pleasure with $1,000 added and Three and Four Year Old Limited Non-Pro Western Pleasure adding $500 to the pot. Rounding out pleasure futurities is the Three and Four Year Old Non-Pro Western Pleasure with $500 added. Ogden Ranch is sponsoring two Hunter Under Saddle Futurities. The Three & Four 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 Level 1 Junior Western Riding, Level 1 Senior Western Riding, Level 1 Junior Trail, Level1 Senior Trail and Level 1 Open Western Pleasure, and Level 1 Hunter Under Saddle along with the Super Sires division of the Snippity Snap Four & Five Year Old Trail. Super Sires Futurities run concurrent with the respective Level 1 AQHA class.
High Point Prizes
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. Trail champions will pack home a Superior Saddle as will Amateurs and Level 1 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 Level 1 Open, Junior, Senior, Level 1 Amateur, Amateur, Select and Amateur Walk/Trot. Scores will be combined from Ranch Riding, Ranch Trail and Working Western Rail in the respective divisions.
Non-Pro high point awards for Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 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.
National Finals
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, eight and four 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.
English Versatility Class Debuts
The Sun Circuit is offering an Open and Non-Pro English Versatility class on the 2025 schedule. While not an AQHA-approved class at this time, both the Open and Non-Pro will offer circuit awards for champion and reserve.
Horses work individually in this pattern class that combines elements of working hunter mixed with a bit of trail, the spirit of ranch riding, the flow of dressage and the elegance of equitation. Patterns will have 10 to 15 maneuvers that include the walk, trot, and canter in both directions; extended trot, stop, back, 180 forehand turn either direction, change of lead (simple or flying) either direction, leg yield, and trot or canter over a jump, cross rail, cavelettis, ground poles or raised rails.
There is a maximum height of 2’6” on any jump or 12” on any raised rails. Horses will be penalized for being over bridled, having a too high or too low head carriage, having short vertical strides or being out of frame. Other points can be lost for ticking a pole, or knocking down poles or obstacles. Complete rules for the Sun Circuit English Versatility can be found at suncircuit.com/english-versatility/.
Complete details, schedules and award criteria can be found at suncircuit.com.
