The Arizona Sun Circuit is in full swing through Feb. 2 at West World in Scottsdale, Arizona. Presented by the Arizona Quarter Horse Association, the Sun Circuit has enjoyed the top spot in the American Quarter Horse Association’s Top 5 Shows rankings the past few years with 2012 entries topping 15,000. The circuit includes eight AQHA shows, free clinics and classes sanctioned by the National Reining Horse Association and National Snaffle Bit Association.

Horses and riders come travel from around the world to compete for compete for $200,000 in prizes in five rings over eight days.

“It’s a great show this year with lots of past loyal customers but many new faces, especially from the Reining and Working Cow Horse arena,” says Debbie Hodde, owner of Winning Couture, one of over 100 vendors at this year’s show.

Jenna Dempze, of Rudolph, Wisconsin is in Scottsdale for the fourth year now to show her 2010 gelding, Rewind And Repeat in Amateur Western Pleasure. She got off to a great start by winning that class on both judges’ cards the first day of action, Saturday, Jan. 25, in a tough class of 26. Her trainer, Gil Galyean, of Purcell, Oklahoma, also won the Junior Western Pleasure on Rewind And Repeat on both cards.

“We like the weather here and the laid-back atmosphere,” Dempze says.

Angie Cannizzaro, of Purcell, Oklahoma, rode Wearin Only Moonlite, to a win in the 3- Year-Old Open Western Pleasure today. It was the first time Cannizzaro has ridden the 2011 bay gelding by Only In The Moonlite and out of LDR Look My Way, since they won the 2-Year-Old Western Pleasure Stakes class at the 2013 All American Quarter Horse Congress in October.

Outside the arena, Jayden McDonough, Bellview, Washington, was hosting his very own “Dog Wash.” The youngster was elbow deep in suds to raise money for a Children’s Hospital.

Free clinics on topics ranging from Trail obstacles to frozen semen are free and open to the public. Robin and Jenny Frid will give back-to-back presentations first on the Basics of Showmanship from 1-2 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 29 and the Basics of Horsemanship following that from 2:15 to 3:15 p.m. On Friday two-time World’s Greatest Horseman winner Bob Avila will offer Boxing tips: “Taking Control to Enhance Your Score” from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Then on Saturday, Feb. 1 Dr. Ross Rich will discuss: Slow Motion Video Analysis and the Biomechanics of Injuries in the Horse. How to Prevent Them & Better Ways to Fix Them.”

A Green Hunter Under Saddle Stakes class will feature $5,000 in added money and $2,500 added to the Limited Division. The class will be presented on Sunday, Feb. 3 and 100 percent of the entry fees, combined with the added money, will be paid back to competitors.

A live fed of the 2014 Sun Circuit will be streaming live from the Equidome, Trail in Arena 5 as well as Arenas 4 and 6. To watch all the action visit: http://horseshowglobal.com/

A schedule of events and daily draws are available at : http://www.suncircuit.com/index.html#

For up to date results from this year’s Sun Circuit visit: http://www.suncircuit.com/results.html