We are thrilled that youth exhibitor Taylor Searles will be reporting for us again this year from the Arizona Sun Circuit. Searles, who lives in Scottsdale, is a multiple Congress and AQHYA World Champion. Her parents, trainers, Jim and Deanna Searles and her brother, Trent, may also be seen around the shows showing in the halter classes. Taylor is competing in the youth all-around at the show with her horses, Flashy Attraction and Al Be Sweet On You. Let’s check out her reports from the show.
Taylor Searles Final Report from Sun Circuit, January 17, 2016
We finally had a sunny Sunday at the Sun Circuit. It is hard to believe that last week everyone was wearing mud boots and the Wendell arena was a lake. Looking back on the week, it has been a great show. Yes, the numbers were big as always, but that was only a small reason to why the Sun Circuit was not one to miss. The show was smoothly run by Doug Huls and his staff who were very accommodating given the circumstances at the beginning of the show and somehow continued to keep everyone happy.
Being that today was the last day of the show, the last of the circuits were awarded as well as the high point awards. Chad Evans not only won the Senior Trail Circuit but the Junior Trail as well. A unique set of awards from this show were the High-Point Rider in the western pleasure, trail, and western riding. Big congratulations to Charlie Cole for winning both the trail and western riding and a check for $7,500! I would also like to congratulate my dad, Jim Searles for winning the High-Point Pleasure Rider and a check for $2,500!
Now on to a different type of award. Josh Briggs won a 50 inch flat screen TV for jumping on his bareback horse the fastest after the Youth Performance Halter Geldings.
Earlier that morning, they were making announcements throughout the barns about this contest. As soon as I heard what they were giving away, I pulled my horse out to start practicing. I had the height disadvantage, unlike Josh, who practically stepped on his horse.
The amount of money in cash and prizes at this show was unbelievable. Scavenger hunts have taken place every day, but today, seven year-old Zane Barkemeyer found a three inch Spider-Man among the vendors to win a pair of Rod Patrick boots. The Smart Boons Down the Fence Cowhorse Challenge did not disappoint once again with a purse of $30,000 for the Open and NonPro, won by Jake Telford of Idaho and Darlene Wood of Arizona, respectively.
Whether you schedule your shows based on the amount of points, the prizes, the location, or the fun… the Arizona Sun Circuit should definitely be on your list for 2017! As I drove out of the fairgrounds, I watched the sun set on this years Sun Circuit.
Sun Circuit Report #8, Saturday, January 16, 2016
Well today was pretty much a normal day at the show; early and cold mornings, running back and forth between classes, and horse races… Yep that’s right! It was another day filled with games for the chance to win amazing prizes. There were the typical boot races, trivia questions, scavenger hunts and the prize patrol golf cart. But today during the Senior Western Pleasure there was a different type of competition.
After the horses came into line, the announcer, Mr. Darren Moore, announced that there was going to be a horse race around the Wendell Arena. The horse and rider combination had to have been shown in the Senior Western Pleasure. Only six brave souls of the 28 in the class stayed in the pen. The rules were laid out, and the horses were staggered at the starting line.
A crowd started to gather and as soon as Tom Forehand said go, the pleasure horses took off like they would have if they were on the track. The crowd was screaming and hollering, it was insane! These horses were flying around the arena, and they weren’t your average pleasure horses either… they were all some of the top pleasure horses in the country.
As soon as the took off, I could tell that this wasn’t a race for people afraid to go fast. I could never imagine being on a horse galloping around at that pace. There was bumping around the end and by the home stretch there were only five horses in contention, the other three had pulled up.
Once they got to the finish line, the results were clear… Andrew Sharp was the winner on a horse for Ken Banks, followed by, Tate Oakley, Shane Dowdy, Gil Galyean, and Dave Archer. Bringing up the rear was Brad Ost, Jamie Dowdy, and Justin Wheeler.
After Andrew Sharp won, he showed off by taking off his horses bridle and loping around back in pleasure mode. As today comes to a close and the video from the class becomes a viral sensation, I began to think about things like this that prove the versatility of the Quarter Horse.
Click below to view GoHorseShow’s video of the race
Fun times at the Sun Circuit! Senior Western Pleasure "race" after the class. For more coverage from the show, go to www.gohorseshow.com
Posted by GoHorseShow.com on Saturday, January 16, 2016
CLICK HERE to view Senior Western Pleasure race courtesy of Taylor Searles
Sun Circuit Report #7, Friday, January 15, 2016
It took a while for the sun to come out from behind the clouds this morning, leaving for a chilly day. Everyone was all bundled up this morning during the showmanship and halter classes. After the Youth Showmanship, one of the many games of the day was played… the boot race. I did not participate in it this time because I knew I’d end up on the ground with a ruined outfit.
Another game that was played was musical cones during the 14-18 Equitation. It was just like musical chairs except on horseback, it got very intense. There was also a Whip/Nae Nae dance contest which was won by Josh Briggs. A 52 inch flat screen TV was given away in a longest slide contest as well. All the contests gave out great prizes as well as the prize patrol which drove around and if you have the code word “copper” you were given a prize.
Another new team that is making their debut at the Sun Circuit is Sydney Frank and Tamu Zippin Asset. Yesterday, Sydney, the daughter of Cathy Frank, and “Grey” competed together for the first time in the Youth Trail. Today, Sydney not only showed in the western riding with Grey for the first time, but it was her first western riding class ever. The new team was 1, 2, and 3 in the Level 1 Youth Western Riding as well as placing in a very tough Youth Western Riding class. Sydney got Grey last month for her birthday and has fallen in love with him. I’ve always said that horses make the best boyfriends. I am so proud of Sydney for how far she has come with Grey and look forward to seeing what they can achieve!
As the final weekend of the 2016 Sun Circuit approaches, everyone continues to look forward to the fun times ahead!
Sun Circuit Report #6, Thursday, January 14, 2016
Today, the show continued on as it had but with the addition of the youth. Everyone is busy running back and forth from arenas. The sun is still shining and everyone seems to be having fun. The Non-Pro Western Pleasure futurity was won unanimously by Susie Johns and Ona Good Kiss, congrats to Susie and my favorite little roan pony.
After the Amateur Horsemanship, there was a ballon race that consisted of flying hats and face plants! The three survivors who crossed the finish line the fastest and won gift certificates were Brittany Morgan, Parris Rice and Gabi Salamone!
Since today was the first day of the youth, there were many new teams that made their debut. One team in particular is being reunited for the 2016 show season. Kaylee Mellott and Only In Showbiz are returning to the show pen after a hiatus of almost three years.
During that time, Alex Chavez had bought “Juan” and was showing him in the Amateur all-around. Recently Kaylee, bought him back and she is ecstatic to spend her last youth year with Juan.
Kaylee says that she “feels so blessed to be given the opportunity to own Juan. His personality is the best, he loves to be pet on and given treats. He’s my best friend and along with his personality, he always tries to be good – he never wants to be bad.”
Kaylee and Juan were already back on top of a very tough youth Horsemanship class of 40 exhibitors the first time back together. I’m very happy for Kaylee and can’t wait to watch her and Juan succeed this year!
Sun Circuit Report #5, Wednesday, January 13, 2016
Today was originally the off day and the day of the annual Sun Circuit Golf Tournament, but with the rain delay it was canceled. While most people where busy showing under the sun, I know of at least two individuals, don’t want to mention names (Leonard Berryhill and Mike Fester) who were out enjoying the great golf courses that Arizona has to offer. Meanwhile, it was another big day of showing! It is a rare occasion for a horse show to have a class with over one hundred entries, even more rare to have multiple classes of that magnitude. Today the Senior Trail, Senior Reining and the Amateur Reining were all between 90-125 horses shown! The numbers don’t lie and are proof that the Sun Circuit is the place to be in January.
The show has reached the half-way point but is still just getting started. All of the youth have arrived and are busy preparing for their chance to enter the show pen. I’ve been going stir crazy from being in school most of the day but still knowing that there is a show going on. I’ve been very envious of everyone showing and can’t wait to get in the pen!
Sun Circuit Report #4, Tuesday, January 12, 2016
I need to open today’s report congratulating The University of Alabama on their win. Okay…moving on!
Tuesday was a sunny day at the Sun Circuit but was still chilly under the covered pens where the halter, showmanship, pleasure and horsemanship were shown. Rod Patrick boots were given away in drawings in every performance halter class this morning. There was also a large purse for the Three-Year Old Open Pleasure Futurity which was won by Dave Archer. The Senior Pleasure was the largest pleasure class with 30 shown – Gil Gaylean won the Level 3 under all cards with Rewind And Repeat for Jenna Dempze, and Jim Searles won the Level 2 under all cards on Its A Good Pleasure for Susie Johns. The horsemanship was very competitive because the top exhibitors are all here!
Elizabeth Borders Combs was recently crowned the AQHA World Champion in Amateur Horsemanship in November, but it was not her first. ‘EB’ was a very successful youth exhibitor and someone I have always looked up to, but like many, she had to take a break in order to attend college.
Last year she came back into the show pen and got qualified on her mother’s horse, Lets Be Radical in the horsemanship. With help from trainer Kelly McDowall, she came home with the gold globe.
This year she is debuting with her new horse, VS Costar, who she got at the 2014 NSBA World Show from the Moran family and Charlie Cole and Jason Martin. EB described ‘Chip’ as “the kindest animal. He is always trying and he has the biggest heart. He loves his pats and is just the sweetest!”
I can back up that statement because while I was talking to EB, the beautiful roan was leaning towards me begging for neck scratches. This week was the first time that this duo has ever shown in the horsemanship and the new team is definitely one to watch for. I am very excited for EB and Chip’s potential in the show pen as they add classes like trail and western riding in the future.
As I was leaving the fairgrounds today, there was an announcement that the English classes would take place in the Wendell tomorrow morning. This is the first time all week that classes are scheduled to take place in the Wendell! The arenas are finally drying up just in time for the youth to show up!
Sun Circuit Report #3, Monday, January 11, 2016
A new day came with new classes. There were nice turn outs in the English classes today. The Green, Junior and Senior Western Riding lasted throughout most of the day. Trail was also shown today and lasted into the night, especially since the biggest class of the day was the Senior Trail with 112 shown.
Speaking of trail… I would like to give a quick shout out to my ‘older brother’ Trevor Johns for making a return in the Amateur Trail. Trevor is the youngest son of Susie Johns and has competed since Small-Fry days at the Congress. He has world and reserve world championships in the trail but had to take a break from showing when the real world called.
His love for showing resurfaced in October when he showed at the Congress on I Gotta Good Name. Trevor says that, “It’s great to get back in the saddle with Sampson, who definitely takes care of me. He has such a big heart and is very forgiving when I have my ‘novice’ moments.” I’m so excited for Trevor and Sampson to be back in the show pen together!
Finally, almost all of the arenas were rideable again. The schedule is working itself back to the original schedule but is still the modified one. Everyone left the show as soon as they could so that they could get to a television in order to watch the National Championship game which is taking place thirty minutes from the fairgrounds. I am guilty of watching the game and writing this entry… I’m not on the Clemson bandwagon, but I personally can’t stand Alabama, so I’m going to end this blog by saying, BEAT BAMA!
Sun Circuit Report #2, Sunday, January 10, 2016
It was the day everyone has been waiting for…the first day of showing! The day started off with the four judges in the halter, then, followed by the showmanship classes. Meanwhile, in a paddock made in a parking lot to accommodate for the lack of dry arenas, a few big trail classes took place and lasted into the evening. After the showmanship, there were large numbers in the pleasure classes as well as in the horsemanship. In the other pens, ranch riding, a very popular class, and cow horse took place.
The Arizona Sun Circuit is the first show of the new year for many. With a new year comes some new events for many exhibitors and their horses. One team in particular made their debut in the all-around events this morning; Sharnai Thompson and Rock County Kid. This team is a familiar name because of their success in the pleasure pen. This year Sharnai decided to add pattern classes such as showmanship and horsemanship to their schedule. With Sharnai’s past showmanship and horsemanship success, it was no surprise that the first time showing showmanship ended with them getting points in a very tough Amateur Showmanship class as well as in horsemanship. The future definitely looks bright for these two.
Everyone is still trying to find places to ride. The Wendell is still mostly a mud pit except for a small part in the center. A modified schedule will still be in effect for the next few days. Doug Huls and Casey Devitt have made every effort to make the show run smoothly and I can honestly say they are doing a great job. The first day of showing was definitely a promising one, I am looking forward to a fun, competitive and big horse show!
Sun Circuit Report #1, Saturday, January 9, 2016
Don’t let the name fool you…the Arizona Sun Circuit has been rainy and gloomy so far, I even brought out the rain boots. Lucky for us, the sun finally came out today in attempt to dry out all of the mud. We have been on a rain delay because of the shortages of dry areas, but the all-around portion of the show will begin Sunday with a modified schedule.
Show management has been hard at work in attempt keep things running smoothly despite lacking mother nature’s cooperation. All of the show exhibitors seem to be in good spirits and are appreciative of the efforts from show management.
Everyone has found ways to keep busy. Many exhibitors have been utilizing the extra time to prepare for the show. There has also been time to visit with friends and watch the roping and other cow events in the warmth of the Equidome. I for one have taken advantage of the rain by spending time shopping at the many vendor spots.
Tonight was the first exhibitor party of the show hosted by the Johns family, the Tobin family, and the Searles family. I definitely ate one too many pasta shells! We are all excited to see that the weather forecast is sunny for the rest of the week, allowing the Sun Circuit to reclaim its name! Stay tuned for more reports from the show.
