Scottsdale, Ariz. – The Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show is an 11-day celebration of tradition and history, welcoming over 2,200 Arabian and Half-Arabian horses registered with the Arabian Horse Association to West World in Scottsdale, Ariz. This year marks the 63rd anniversary for the largest Arabian horse show in the world. From February 15 - 25, 2018, the competition hosted a wide array of classes across six bustling show rings, from native costume to working western and halter to jumpers, totaling over 12,000 entries this year.
“2018 was a great year,” said Arabian Horse Association of Arizona (AHAA) Executive Director Taryl O’Shea. “We saw our horse count up over the last few years, and our sponsorships and commercial exhibitor participation was strong. The quality of the horses was unparalleled and the number of countries represented was up over 100 this year. So on all accounts, we had a banner year!”
With nearly 1,178 classes for spectators to enjoy, several winning moments stood out at the 2018 show. Tommy Garland (Powhatan, Va.) and Holdin’ Aces (Arezzo NL X Hollygolitely DDF), owned by Joelle Wright, put on a performance to remember, winning the Open Arabian Western Pleasure Championship with their beautiful hand gallop and difficult transitions.
The Ranch Riding classes were extremely popular, seeing 28 entries in the Half-Arabian/Anglo-Arabian (HA/AA) Ranch Horse Riding Championship JTR and 33 entries in the HA/AA Ranch Horse Riding Championship. Molly Thigpin (Cave Creek, Ariz.) and Wimpys Little Cat+ (Wimpys Little Step x Scat Cat), owned by Victoria Roe, won the HA/AA Ranch Horse Riding Championship JTR, while Kit Hall (Santa Ynez, Calif.) and his own TR It Takes Grit (What It Takes x ZZA ZZA Lena) took home the blue in the HA/AA Ranch Horse Riding Championship.
“The two largest classes of the show were the Scottsdale Signature Stallion (SSS) Futurity Yearling Filly and Colt Amateur to Handle (ATR) halter classes with 81 in the fillies and 63 entered in the colts,” said O’Shea. “The SSS futurity is a program that AHAA started in 2002 and it is the largest prize money program in the Arabian industry. Between all of the AHAA shows, we give away over $500,000 in prize money to SSS classes each year.”
Michaiah Carson (White Oak, N.C.) won both the SSS Championship Classic Yearling Colts/Geldings ATR and the SSS Championship Class Yearling Fillies ATR with half-siblings. She claimed the colts/geldings championship with Psyaxxton (Exxalt X MC Psynammon), owned by Cecil or Frances Butler and Jeff or Sybil Collins, and the fillies with Elevea Exx Sayida (Exxalt X Exquisite Lady BFA), owned by Frances Butler.
Click here for complete results from the Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show. Learn more about the Arabian horse and its conformation, which makes the breed suitable for a variety of disciplines, in the US Equestrian Learning Center video.
Further demonstrating the versatility of the Arabian horse, the show also offered spectators a full program of education and entertainment opportunities with admission, including meet-and-greets with Arabian horses, barn tours, pony rides, art projects, and more. The 2018 Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show is proud to benefit the following worthwhile charities: Horses Help, March of Dimes, Ryan House, Scottsdale Community College and Warrior Horses.
The Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show was again home to the exciting, second annual Marquise Invitational Auction on February 23. In its inaugural year, the auction brought in over $3,000,000 in sales and an average of $242,846.15 per sale. In 2018, the auction brought in over $2,000,000 with an average of $154,000 per sale. The highest selling lot sold for $450,000.
Additionally, during the auction a fiberglass Arabian horse known as “Legend,” painted by well-known artist Suzanne Economopoulos and part of the Arabian Horse Association’s Market Development and Promotions Committee’s Horses for Humanity project, was auctioned for $100,000 to benefit the Warrior Horses for Warrior Kids project. Dan Grossman purchased “Legend” for $75,000, with an additional $25,000 donated to the cause by Arabian Soul. Read more about the project and its beneficiary.
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