Queen Creek's Horseshoe Park and Equestrian Centre is a unique facility not only for the town and its residents, but for the entire Phoenix metropolitan area.
Its 38 acres provides ample opportunity for events of both the English and Western equestrian persuasion, as well as vendor fairs, concerts and various car shows. Since it's located near an old landfill, the Town of Queen Creek got creative and decided an equestrian park would be the perfect use for the quiet and secluded land. The town's website says, "Horseshoe Park was constructed with flexibility in mind" and is "home to a number of prestigious organizations and events," including this week's Roots N' Boots Queen Creek.
Rich Robertson, vice president and member of the board of directors of Friends of Horseshoe Park, a nonprofit chartered in 2010 to support the Horseshoe Park and Equestrian Centre in Queen Creek, said he lives in Gilbert, just at the border of Queen Creek.
"My kids grew up with horses and we spent a lot of time at Horseshoe Park in Queen Creek and that's how I got involved with Friends of Horseshoe Park," he said, adding that even Gilbert now hosts its Gilbert Days rodeo at Queen Creek's Horseshoe Park and Equestrian Centre.
Robertson said proceeds from all fundraising events put on by Friends of Horseshoe Park, like this week's Roots N' Boots Queen Creek, go directly back to improving Horseshoe Park.
"Recently, we did a fundraiser to put a cover over Arena 3 at the park and that's a big deal because it opens up the opportunity for the park to bring in more equestrian events," he said. "So the park benefits from that financially. Also, residents and the town benefit from it because it's quite a focal point to have an equestrian center like that."
Queen Creek's Horseshoe Park and Equestrian Centre is located at 20464 E. Riggs Road, just west of Ellsworth Road. For more information or to inquire about making a reservation, call 480-358-3793.
