HORSES & HISTORY
EQUESTRIAN ROOTS THAT RUN DEEP
FREE REIGN SINCE DAY ONE
In the beautiful state of Arizona, wild horses roaming desert pastures is an image iconic of her character. At WestWorld, we happily share that character.
Horses, their owners, and the vibrant community that surrounds them are some of the biggest reasons our venue exists. Eventing, dressage, show jumping, polo, and more—equestrian events immediately come to mind when WestWorld is even mentioned.
As we continue to welcome a variety of diverse events and passionate communities to our grounds, our undeniable equestrian blood will always course through this breathtaking desert venue. We invite you to join these communities and discover the beautiful sophistication of these events in the heart of Scottsdale.
Our History
OF HORSES
CHOLLA PARK
1970
Desert Park is renamed to Cholla Park, which opened on the north end of the Scottsdale Airport runway as an equestrian park.
RUNWAY EXTENSION
1980
Ten years after the park’s renaming, the park is closed to make way for an airport runway extension, prompting the city to search for a new equestrian venue.
BOR AGREEMENT
1982
The City of Scottsdale enters a long-term agreement with the US Bureau of Land Management to lease land north of the central Arizona canal.
Horseman's Park
1984
These images show on the ground and aerial views of the small corral at Horseman’s Park in 1984.
HORSEMANS PARK
1986
Initial construction is completed on the vacant land and Horseman’s Equestrian and Theme Park is opened. The park also hosts the Sun County Quarter Horse Show—one of the largest quarter horse shows in the world.
EQUIDOME ARENA
1987
The original Equidome Arena—a covered outdoor arena for horse-related events—is completed, paving the way for the space’s prevalence in the equestrian event-hosting community.
ARABIAN HORSE SHOW
1989
The first Arabian Horse Show is hosted on-site for the first time. Originally hosted in Scottsdale since 1956, this event would become a staple of WestWorld’s equestrian future.
RENAMED TO WESTWORLD
1990
After a brief name change to HorseWorld in 1988, the park is officially renamed to WestWorld.
TNEC
2013
The Tony Nelssen Equestrian Center opens at WestWorld, named after the esteemed City Councilman. His passion for the arts, education, the outdoors, the city, and the “Code of the West” live on through the TNEC.
Impulsion
2014
Facility Of The Year
2020
The League of Agriculture and Equine Centers awarded WestWorld with Facility of the Year.
ARABIAN HORSE SHOW
1989
The first Arabian Horse Show is hosted on-site for the first time. Originally hosted in Scottsdale since 1956, this event would become a staple of WestWorld’s equestrian future.
ARTISTRY BY HORSEBACK
