The Arizona Quarter Horse Association announced in a press release Tuesday that the Arizona Sun Circuit, held in Scottsdale, Arizona will move its dates from January to March 4-12th in 2017. To many, this is good news because the weather in Scottsdale is more predictable and pleasant during that time of year.
“There are always some pitfalls to making changes, but I believe the exhibitors will love the weather in Scottsdale this time of year,” Sun Circuit Show Manager Doug Huls told GoHorseShow. “The show will also not have to deal with the Barret-Jackson auto auction being held at the same time. We had to change our dates of the show last year because of them. The positives of having more room, the ability to have more indoor arenas, and the means to resolve our parking issues is a huge plus. I think everyone will love it.”
We talked to many trainers and exhibitors about the Sun Circuit moving its dates. Let’s see what everyone had to say.
Kathy Tobin – It’s unfortunate that the Barrett Jackson Car Show has pushed the horses out. As we all know, the car show has a lot more financial clout with the City of Scottsdale. It’s a shame seniority has no accreditation anymore. As they say, “You can’t fight City Hall”. I hope this change will work well for both Sun Circuit and Silver Dollar Circuit. Both are wonderful shows and both deserve the best. Time will tell how people receive the change. Some will love the change and some will hate it – you can’t please everybody. I worry about Sun Circuit and its conflict with the AQHA Convention during some years because so many trainers and their clients have obligations or enjoy attending the Conventions. I’m sure during those years, Sun Circuit will lose entries. Hopefully, with better weather, the humans and horses will be better off because I worry about the strain on us humans, trainers and clients alike as well as our ponies. On the positive side, it is a fairly short haul from Phoenix to Vegas. I just hope the change will be great and will help both shows. Best wishes to both shows for a WIN-WIN situation.
Nancy Alto-Renfro – I believe it’s a good move for the Sun Circuit – dealing with weather, car show and Florida was hurting the show. March will be a great time of year for it. Unfortunately, the Silver Dollar Circuit will suffer. I think the strain of two highly competitive shows back-to-back will cause most to choose one or the other. Hopefully, the Silver Dollar can move either to Jan/Feb or possibly in front of the Level 1 Championship in April. This way, both shows can stay ranked as the best shows in the country.
Leslie Lange – I am not in favor of this change for a few reasons. Having two major shows back to back would not be good for the horses since they are both such demanding shows. Most of my clients can’t be off that long and I might have to pass because the new dates will at some point fall during the AQHA Convention which I attend every year. People that go to both may be able to cut down on mileage expenses if the shows are back-to-back but having the costs of hotels, training, and entry fees for three weeks in a row is not very cost effective for most of my clients. I like these shows spread out because the horses had time to recover, now, I am afraid the horses will be tired and sore coming out of the Sun Circuit. So, as of now, the way things stand, my clients and I would probably choose to attend the Silver Dollar Circuit because of the early days, schedule, weather and convenience.
Candice Hall – I am torn about these two shows. For exhibitors in the North West, it means instead of two separate fairly long hauls, the hauling could be combined, saving time on the road for the horses and expense. On the flip side, it is a long time for trainers and exhibitors to be away from home, work, pets, families. What about the “training horses” that are sitting in the barn, not being ridden? For those of us that own and operate a business, taking that much time off at once will be a juggling act, and may mean giving up part or all of one of the circuits.
Charlie Cole – I’m hopeful the shows are not back-to-back. They are both huge shows and will be extremely tough to show that many days in a row. I also think clients will want to pick between the two shows due to the expense and missing that many days at work.
Brenda Gower – For me, personally, I think that if the Sun Circuit had to change the dates of the show, this was a great idea. I try to find the good in everything. For us, Highpoint will be hauling our horses out for the Sun Circuit and then continue on to the Silver Dollar Circuit. We haul multiple horses, so by doing this, I’ll have just one haul fee per horse which will not be that much more to head up to Vegas from Arizona. Although, I will miss being in Arizona in January when the weather is not so nice in Canada. I can see a negative in doing this as well being that some of the exhibitors can not take that much time off of school and/or work, so they then might have to choose which show to attend.
Beckie Peskin – From my perspective, I can only do one or the other either way. From both the financial and a time away from work/family perspective, I have to kind of pick one “big show” per quarter with the exception of the Congress and The AQHA World Show. I think for the folks that haul for titles or don’t work that it will be fine, but for others, they will probably have to pick and choose. I also think it could be hard on the horses coming from east of the shows – that’s a lot of hauling/being on the road that long. If I had to choose between the shows, I would probably attend the Silver Dollar at this point due to the facility – no rental car needed, lots to do for my hubby/daughter, but it might come down to judges if they were posted early enough and that’s saying a lot because I love Scottsdale and loathe Vegas!
Kelly McDowall – I think it all depends on your training program and how you run your business that will make these changes good or bad. I try to go home between shows as I have a wife and kids that I like to spend time with. They don’t always come to the shows depending on their work and school schedules. I also have a few customers at home with young horses that are not traveling to shows. This is not a problem when I am able to have someone at home to ride these horses but that is not always possible. Both of these shows have become very important in my businesses show schedule, but I am not sure yet whether I will go to one of the shows or both of the shows.
Kathryn deVries Mitchell– As an amateur with a full time job and family, I can’t take the whole month of March off to show. I will have to choose. Vegas is relatively cheaper (hotel, etc) and logistically easier, so I will probably choose that one. As someone who relies on these two shows to qualify, it will definitely change my plans for the year. It is also right in the middle of foaling season.
Laurel Walker Denton – I feel that those who can and would like to make both shows, the change will be a plus for them. It is just a five hour drive between Scottsdale and Vegas. As far as the cow/reining people are concerned, it will not affect them because Silver Dollar does not offer those classes. A lot of thought and effort went into making this change, and I feel it is best for the industry. Change is always hard, but this is a good one.
Hilary Reinhard – Living on the extreme West Coast means that there have only three major shows that are relatively easy to attend: Sun Circuit, Silver Dollar and the Summer Classic. Consolidating the Sun Circuit and Silver Dollar into one month will make it harder for working amateurs to attend both horse shows. Attending both shows back to back would mean 2-1/2 to 3 weeks away from home. I am lucky that I have a career where I can work remotely, but being gone that long would still be a hardship. I feel that between the time away from home and the cost of both shows coming in the same month, some people will have to choose one show or the other. We would likely choose Vegas. It’s a little closer, and the facility is so nice. Plus, it’s really easy for me to work there because I can just head to the room.
Debbie Kail – I believe it is a good thing. I think the weather will be better and I think it will be a positive for people to be able to make both circuits.
Chelsea Carlson – There are definitely some positives and negatives on this issue. I love Sun Circuit but haven’t been able to attend the past couple years because of the dates being so early. Most of my clients don’t feel ready to step out to that level of show for their first one of the year. Coming from Oregon, going to those shows is a big risk considering how much money you’re potentially out just on the haul itself. Also, the weather going over the mountains can definitely be tricky at the beginning of the year. The back to back issue also brings up the money and time issue. Although, if someone is really planning on both they would have likely just saved up money any way, and it would be more of a cost effective haul since you’re not going down that way at two separate times. Two more thoughts, is how that works out for trainers being gone practically most of March and now those two shows would bump up in front of the Novice Championship Show. Unless you are taking all your horses or have a great assistant, this could be upsetting for the clients being left home. Most of the novice clients are just starting up and don’t always have the funds to be able to afford everything including showing a lot on the road. It will be interesting how this plays out for next year. I’ll definitely be considering some things myself.
Larisa Affeldt – As far as the Sun Circuit changing its dates, I do see both positive and negative about it. The positives being – better weather with a less chance of rain. This year it was hard to have the horses ready earlier than in years past. I love showing in Arizona when it’s nice outside and the ground is good. Also a positive, we can plan a day to go to a spring training baseball game on the day off. Negatives (I only see one) – housing and hotels will be way more expensive that week because of spring training. February and March are two of the most expensive months in Arizona because everyone wants to be there for the great weather and baseball games. I know the house we rented last year is not going to be available at that time. I already checked. Even if it was available, it would be priced way higher at that time than it was in January.
