Whether you own horses or just love them, you will find that the greater Phoenix area has some of the top equestrian events in the west. At the many equestrian centers in and around Phoenix, you’ll find rodeos, festivals, and horse shows to enjoy. In fact, this region has many different horse clubs that host breed-specific equestrian shows throughout the year. Do you prefer the classic or English driving style? You can even find dressage and hunter shows in the Phoenix area. Whatever horse breed, riding style or event you like to see, you will find it in the Valley of the Sun.
See the Thoroughbred race at Turf Paradise in North Phoenix
If you love horse racing, then you will want to visit Turf Paradise. This racing facility is located in north central Phoenix and has live horse races five days a week, generally Friday through Tuesday to incorporate the weekend. On days when the park hosts races, it hosts an average of ten races a day. This equestrian venue is quite affordable and offers fun family entertainment that is highlighted by the beautiful thoroughbred breed. Turf Paradise is a historic racing venue. It was opened in 1956 and was the first professional sports franchise in the state.
The valley hosts many rodeos throughout the year
If you love western style horse riding events, you will love the Valley. In the greater Phoenix area you will find rodeos in many different cities. Scottsdale hosts the Parada del Sol Rodeo in early spring. This three-day event features cowboys and cowgirls from across the country. It is hosted by WestWorld. In northern Arizona, Payson also hosts a rodeo, the Payson Rodeo, which is the oldest continuously operating rodeo in the world. This rodeo began in 1884 and has been held every August since that date.
Today, the City of Payson incorporates the rodeo into a large municipal festival complete with parades, music, dancing, and other neighborhood events. As you explore the historic rodeos, be sure to check out the Prescott Frontier Days Rodeo. Prescott is a few hours from Phoenix, but this rodeo features some of the best contestants in the area and takes place in the summer. Since Prescott is in the mountains, the weather is cool enough to provide a comfortable temperature for outdoor summer events.
Be sure to visit the Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show
One of the major equestrian events in the Phoenix area is the Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show. This horse show is organized by the Arabian Horse Association of Arizona at WestWorld. This annual show features more than 2,000 of the finest Arabian thoroughbred and mixed-blood horses. They compete in various events, such as Western Pleasure, English Pleasure, Show Hack, and Halter shows. The event also features hundreds of vendors on the trade fair floor, where you can purchase a souvenir or some supplies for your own horses. There are also seminars and demonstrations throughout the show. This show is so well done that people from all over the state and the country come to Scottsdale to attend.
