The horse industry in Arizona is vibrant and strong. Doug joins the Cowboys to discuss industry changes and how to capitalize on the opportunities and meet the challenges they represent.
What we talk about:
At the Cowboy Office Today:
Doug Huls
Brian Dygert
Jody Brainard
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Arizona Sun Circuit. This destination show uses the full range of space that Westworld of Scottsdale has to offer and is a must-attend for many in the Quarter Horse industry.
Sun Circuit focuses on being an event where people have fun, enjoy competing at all levels, and meet up with fellow horsemen from other disciplines they may not see at other shows. It’s not often that one venue can host such a vast array of classes running in multiple arenas on the same days. Reining, Western Riding, Cow Horse, Showmanship, Roping, Horsemanship, and more will fill the arenas while everyone enjoys the sunshine.
AzRHA has found a unique identity with Sun Circuit. It’s not about huge purses or championship titles. It’s about being an event where people have fun, test themselves in deep competition, and maybe try out a new horse while they are at it. They also have plenty to offer spectators or supportive family and friends who arrive without a horse.
Cowboy Office and AzQHA share in the mission of getting more people involved by breaking down barriers and making newcomers feel welcome. AzQHA offers no bling shows with both Quarter Horse and all breed classes. They host multiple levels of shows throughout the year and encourage members to start where they are comfortable then test themselves as they progress. They support the youth through IEA scholarships and pay for Youth World show fees through an active fundraising program.
Though the industry is strong, there are hurdles to be aware of. The increasing pressure to offer huge added money to purses challenges a show’s ability to meet those demands while being financially stable. Meanwhile, the decline in entries at the AQHA World Show may indicate that exhibitors are changing their priorities, and then there is venue space. Even at the expansive Westworld of Scottsdale, Sun Circuit has nearly maxed out stalling and arenas. Venue space and availability is a real challenge for any show that desires to move, expand, or enter the market.
Add to these challenges the task of identifying and training qualified professional staff to manage each area and you’ve got quite the challenge for all show producers. It’s a challenge Doug Huls and AzQHA are planning to meet by staying ahead of the curve and maintaining their unique identity as an “equine extravaganza.”
Website: CowboyOffice.com
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Email: Exec@CowboyOffice.com
AzQHA: www.azqha.com
Sun Circuit: https://www.suncircuit.com/
Production and marketing by ConsultMent.Agency
Episode 37
The NRHA has 40 rule proposals on the table for 2026. We review and discuss each rule and explore the effects for the sport and association.
Episode 36 The Arabian Working Western Alliance. AWWA.
The newest challenge to the working western horse in a competitive arena. Amateurs are the highlight as well as the skills of a western horse put together in a challenging format that is more than Ranch Riding.
Episode 35 Jim Kiser from Kiser Arenas.
The Man in the Arena. He is riding forward as he shares how to measure, test and manage our performance ground to keep horses sound, performing higher and producing our events better. Join us for a great discussion.
2024 Open Reining Champion. Kaci O”Rourke and The Fireman make history as the 1st woman to win this prestigious event.
We review the event and provide data and analytics for the officiating performance relative to the professional talent displayed.
Episode 34 has an epic discussion around the common issues and scenarios in the industry. Race horses or high performance horses, change the names, venues and towns as the story may be very similar. From medications performance enhancing drugs, government regulations and the bond between horse and human along with what competition will do to human behavior. Join us for a great conversation.
Episode 33 has the #2 Open Rider from All Time in Reining, Shawn Flarida as he shares his insights, forward thinking and lessons learned from one of his Great Horses, Spooks Gotta Whiz and the dynamic event, The Run for the Million in Vegas.
Selecting a horse for the TRFM Finals, preparing your horse along with lessons learned from this ride as the sport continues to evolve. Shawn has qualified and been in every TRFM Finals to date. What event is the SuperBowl of Reining?
1 Rider: 1 Horse competition as opposed to 1 Rider: 3 Horses in open aged events; we discuss along with the open leveling for riders. Is there a difference between L3 & L4 ?
