Horse Illustrated Magazine

This week in Scottsdale, Ariz., it’s all about Arabian horses as the 53rd annual Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show and Shopping Expo gets underway at the WestWorld facility. The excitement began Feb. 15 and continues through Feb. 24.

This year’s event has attracted a record 2,560 horses competing for prizes exceeding $1 million. Horses and owners from Mexico, South America and Europe are registered to compete, including horses owned by Eduardo Bours, the governor of Sonora, Mexico

Show highlights include:

• February 20–The Scottsdale Signature Stallion Futurity program, which accounts for almost half the show’s purse, with $450,000 to be divided among horses sired by stallions registered in the futurity.

• February 22-24–Championship weekend features classes in halter, English riding, Western riding, jumping, native costume and other competitions.

• February 23–The Farnam $5,000 Arabian Freestyle Liberty Class features unsaddled horses set free in an arena performing to music.