By Morgan Moore
Over the years, the quest to expand the reach of the Arabian horse has inspired countless surveys, studies, and interviews from the large organizations that support the breed and related competition venues. Universally, these studies always come back to one central tried and accurate method of cultivating passion amongst non-horse enthusiasts: a passion for horses is created by physical interactions touching and riding the Arabian horse.
The Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show is the only public event that allows those without horse exposure to meet, touch, and even ride Arabians. The Arabian Horse Association of Arizona is behind the production of the Arabian horse. While providing an excellent competition venue is one focus area, their mission remains to educate, promote, create opportunities for interaction, and preserve the Arabian breed. Few associations or groups boast this show association’s success, which has faithfully served the breed and exhibitors since 1954.
For 70 years, the Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show, run by AHAA, has showcased the beauty of the Arabian horse through the most diverse class set in the industry. It remains the only Arabian horse show of significant size to host Trail, Hunters, Jumpers, Dressage, cattle work, Reining, Sport Horse, pleasure classes, Halter, and various unique prize money programs in a single event. The show welcomes roughly 2,100 horses annually and pays more than $1,000,000 in prize money.
Each year, the show experiments by offering new divisions or classes to encourage new competitors to find an opportunity to exhibit their partnership with their own (or leased) Arabian horse in the ring. While recent years have seen the additions of classes like In-Hand Trail Extravaganza (a $10,000 prize money class for two-year-olds) and Select Halter (for those interested in exploring Halter in a less electric first exposure), this year, AHAA elected to create room for a new event to launch on US Soil: Global Champions Arabian Tour Americas.
The “GCAT” events have created a stir across Europe and the Middle East, where new show venues launched to accommodate elaborate, spectator-directed shows to present the Arabian halter horse in a way the world has never seen them. Before 2025, however, venues based in the Americas were notably absent from the exceptional destinations boasted by the tour. The tour will include five stops across the US, Canada, and Brazil, with Scottsdale elected to be the inaugural event host.
The total tour will pay out roughly $1,700,000 across all events. To be eligible for the most significant cumulative prizes, the horses must travel to four of the five events and compete at the end of the year. Horses with medals from the final event in Las Vegas will be eligible to compete at the World Championships.
GCAT partnered with AHAA to create a space in the schedule for the event to take place on the show grounds inside the grand tent previously utilized by Barrett Jackson for their world-famous car auction. The two-day event offered $270,000 in prize money with decadent food, Southwest-inspired décor, and a plethora of entertainment interludes intended to celebrate the unique spirit of the American Southwest and Arabian horses. From line dancers to fire performers to traditional Native American dance performances, the displays were colorfully brilliant and encapsulated the eclectic beauty of American culture.
The first Gold Champion crowned was the enigmatic yearling filly Sedona AS, a beautiful daughter of Dominic M and CW Sexxi, owned by Arabian Soul Partners and handled by Sandro Pinha.
Bella Z by Dominic M and out of OFW Bella Marajj led the show in total score with an impressive 93.40 and took home the Gold Championship in Junior fillies for co-owners Royal Arabians and PCF Arabians, handled by Carlinhos Souza.
GCAT Gold Champion Yearling Filly Sedona AS (Dominic M x CW Sexxi).
GCAT Gold Champion Junior Filly Bella Z (Dominic M x OFW Bella Marajj).
Back in the AHAA-sanctioned Scottsdale arenas, the competition for Halter proved strong despite the advent of a new show with all divisions represented by quality horses in all of their offered divisions: International, Classic, Amateur, Select, Scottsdale Signature, Egyptian Heritage, and Breeders Club.
In the Classic Championships hosted in historical Wendell Arena, Dominic M continued to prove a sire of significance with his foals winning most of the rose garland positions:
Junior Champion Gelding
HFA Jazz Man (Dominic M x MC Jasmara)
Reserve Champion Junior Filly
Maia AS (Dominic M x Marbella PCF)
Scottsdale Junior Colt Champion
Masarat (Dominic M x Mulan ITSB)
Scottsdale Senior Mare Champion
HT Lunatica (Dominic M x BM Venecia)
Scottsdale Senior Stallion Reserve Champion
Stardom Sky (Dominic M x OFW Jewel of Marwan)
Sire of multiple Scottsdale winners Dominic M (DA Vinci FM x Rosa La Valentina). He is owned by and stands at Orrion Farms.
Scottsdale Senior Chanpion Mare HT Lunatica and Ricardo Rivero for owners Cindy McGown, Mark Davis, and Danubius Arabian SRL.
Champion Liberty Khaja J (Khadraj NA x Promise V) owned by the Jerome Family.
The final Saturday night of the Scottsdale show traditionally features the classes that draw the most interest from spectators, including Liberty, which encourages crowd participation (and even factors audience performance as part of the score). The two horses with the highest scores were stallions, which are also heavily utilized sires in the western arena: Khaja J (Khadraj NA x Promise V) and Conquest BR (Versace x Lee Anna Psy). The two stallions dazzled audience members with their exceptional Arabian type, charisma, and beauty. Khaja J emerged victorious for the Jerome family, with Conquest BR capturing reserve champion for owner Diane Franklin of Franklin Farms.
The Junior rider divisions are always well attended, with all classes geared at the younger age groups, which occur on the show’s first weekend. This year, Brooke Landon won the English Pleasure division championship for her age group and the Elite Rider division aboard Royal Nobility+/ (VJ Royal Heir x Joleen WB). Brooke has made waves in the industry, emerging as a young breeder with a strong conviction for producing the best possible performance prospects for English divisions. While her program is in its early stages, her vision and passion are contagious. Her powerhouse program includes elite sire and show horse Black Daniels, who boasted an impressive 53 ribbons earned by his offspring throughout the show.
Brooke Landon with Arabian English Pleasure 15-18 and Elite Rider Champion Royal Nobility+/ (VJ Royal Heir x Joleen WB).
The Over Fences exhibition opportunities for Arabian horses mostly exist at non-breed show venues. Scottsdale has the most extensive class offerings for both Hunters and Jumpers, making it the destination event for open and amateur riders of all ages in these divisions. This year, the Gambler’s Choice Jumper Champion was the athletic HF Drama Queen++//, a daughter of multiple national champion TA Caarnot++/ and out of Little Twist O Lake. Grand Prix rider Kristin Hardin dominated these divisions, winning an impressive 17 of the Scottsdale over fences classes.
In the ranch riding divisions, the Silver Aspen Ranch in Memory of LaRae Fletcher Powell ATARHA HA/AA Ranch Horse Riding Futurity Championship class for Half-Arabians and Anglo-Arabians was won by Hesa Yella Fella (Hesa Artfull Zee x Jerseyette), guided by the incredible junior rider Riley Lallo. Though still a junior rider, Riley has been competitive at all levels across the working divisions through her youth career, including reining, ranch riding, ranch rail, reining seat equitation, and horsemanship. She competed in all these divisions at Scottsdale, earning 19 placings.
The coveted Open Western Pleasure Championship was captured by the beautiful stallion PA Mckoy (PA Kid Khan x Maggie May V), who also won the title in 2024 and 2023. It is rare for any individual to win the title twice in a career, but even less common for an individual to win three years consecutively.
The 11-day schedule of Scottsdale can be trying, with seven arenas operating classes to accommodate the many disciplines exhibited at the show. However, through the hard work of the incredible team and association that supports the show, thousands of people discover the beauty and versatility of the Arabian horse. Beyond that, the show gives back to several charities each year, with this year supporting the Arabian Horse Promotional Fund, Arabian Horsemen’s Distress Fund, Friends of Vail Foundation, Scottsdale Community College, Horses Help Therapeutic Riding & Youth for Troops, and the Make a Wish Foundation.
Gambler’s Choice Champion HF Drama Queen++// and Kristin Hardin.
Hesa Yella Fella and junior rider Riley Lallo winning Champion in the Silver Aspen Ranch in Memory of LaRae Fletcher Powell ATARHA HA/AA Ranch Horse Riding Futurity class.
