The sun is shining in Scottsdale, Arizona and the Arizona Sun Circuit is off to a great start. Held annually the last week of January the Arizona Sun Circuit draws exhibitors from across the country to scenic WestWorld for the week long event. Doug Huls is the show manager and the brains of the Sun Circuit Horse Show. Throughout the show you will never see Doug just sitting, he’s constantly on the move from arena to arena making sure everything is running smoothly and exhibitors are happy.

“My goal for Sun Circuit is to have something to offer everyone wether your an exhibitor or a spectator.” Huls says. “The show keeps getting bigger and bigger every year and it attracts people from all across the nation.”

Along with a full class schedule Sun Circuit also offers free clinics from some of the top professionals in the horse industry including Bob Avila, Al Dunning, Matt Mills, Robin and Jenny Frid, Bruce Vickery, Bruce Walquist, Laurel Walker Denton and Dr.Frisbie on topics such as Showmanship, Trail and Horsemanship.

For Julie Scrivo from Ontario, Canada, this is her first trip to the Sun Circuit, “All I can say is WOW,” Scrivo says.  “I’ve always dreamed about showing at the Sun Circuit and it’s everything I ever imagined and more. The quality of the horses is amazing, the classes are huge and it is hands down the most exhibitor friendly show I have ever been to.”

Sun Circuit draws big numbers in the Senior Trail and Senior Western Riding. Don Lehman is the trail course designer for the circuit and he definitely left no room for any mistakes in the pattern. It was set very tight with lots of sharp steering and transitions throughout the whole pattern. One by one 135 entries took their turn at the course.

“My horse has a pretty big stride at the lope and trot so the most challenging part of this trail pattern was making sure I get the correct number of strides in between each obstacle while still making it look pretty.” Amateur exhibitor Darcy Reeve says. The big winner for the first day of the Senior Trail was Chad Evans riding Lil Bit Western for owner Brittany Lofton.

The Sun Circuit always brings out the best of the best in Senior Western Riding. After 88 entries and 9 hours the class ended the day “I could sit and watch the Sr Western Riding at the Sun Circuit all day long,” Amateur exhibitor Hannah Friedel says. “To be able to watch so many talented horse and rider combinations maneuver their way through a western riding pattern with such ease is amazing.” The big winner for the first day in the Senior Western Riding was Jason Martin riding Heavenly Mac for owner Susan Knapp.

Judges for the week include Russ Smith, Valerie Kearns, Betsy Tuckey, Doug Allen, Michele Person, Gretchen Mathes, Tom McBeath, Jeff Allen, Elizabeth Baker, John Pipkin, Clark Parker, Joe Carter, Marilyn Randall, David Avery, Peter Morgan, Chris Jeter, Christina Riley, Cliff Kellmer and Billy Cochrane.

Stay tuned for updates from sunny Scottsdale or if your in Scottsdale, Arizona this week definitely stop by WestWorld and enjoy everything the Sun Circuit has to offer.

 Click Here to check out candids from the show