During their August meeting, the Friends of Horseshoe Park (FOHP) Board of Directors voted to purchase three, 10-stall temporary barns for the Town of Queen Creek’s Horseshoe Park & Equestrian Centre (HPEC). The total cost of the purchase will be $75,000 and will increase the total number of stalls from 320 to 350.
As the number of events being held at HPEC continues to increase, the new stalls will help to alleviate the stall shortage experienced over the past years.
According to HPEC General Manager David Solum, the park has had to turn away over 100 stall requests each year for the last two years. Already, the existing stalls are sold out for upcoming events such as the Arizona Cutting Horse Association in October, November, January and February; Art of the Cowgirl in January; and Cowboy Mounted Shooters in February. Other events like the Southern Arizona Quarter Horse Show and Arizona Western Dressage had to limit stalls, which in turn limited participants.
Analysis by the American Quarter Horse Association and American Horse Council shows that the increase in stalls will add over $26,000 in additional revenue each year for HPEC with an estimated total economic impact to the Queen Creek community being $594,608 (not including Arizona state, Maricopa County or Town of Queen Creek taxes).
A recent analysis of the economic impact of HPEC shows that event attendees bring more than 11,000 horses to the park annually. With about 80 total equestrian-related events being held each year at HPEC, the analysis indicates these events contribute $40,282,831 to the overall estimated direct economic impact benefiting the Town of Queen Creek and its residents.
FOHP supports HPEC as a focal point of Queen Creek's rural heritage and promotes it as an economic driver and source of pride for our community. To date for 2023, FOHP has donated a total of $132,785 to HPEC for fencing around the south overflow lot, support for the asphalt along the Paseo, and additional horse panels. Additionally, there is one project still under development that will be revealed later this year.
FOHP is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, incorporated in 2010 to support Horseshoe Park Equestrian Centre in Queen Creek, as well as to help foster the rural heritage of Queen Creek. As an organization, FOHP helps to organize, run and support special events at HPEC. FOHP are the hosts of the annual community event, Roots N’ Boots Queen Creek, which celebrates the Queen Creek rural heritage by providing multiple days of family oriented fun centered around an agricultural theme. The 2024 event will be March 13-17. Presented by Banner Ironwood Medical Center, this multi-day event offers an all Women’s Rodeo on Wednesday, Thursday All Bullriding event, PRCA Rodeo, vendors, carnival, entertainment and multiple family activities for all ages.
