A draft horse team pulls its “rig” through one of the covered arenas at Horseshoe Park and Equestrian Center. (4D, Brian Dygert/Submitted)
By Mark Moran | Queen Creek Tribune
A Queen Creek consultant has proposed plans to transform Horseshoe Park and Equestrian Centre from a seasonal venue into a year-round operation, capable of hosting events without being deterred by the seasonal heat.
“What does that require? Climate control,” said Brian Dygert, 4D Production LLC, principal. “Everybody in the country has the same components. It’s just a different season. Ours is heat. So, what do we need? Air conditioning.”
Dygert said, in addition to adding climate control, the plan will require expanding the facility to attain maximum horse stall and RV capacity. He said that would allow Horseshoe Park to host two events at once or one large event without concerns over climate.
This fiscal year, Horseshoe Park hosted 148,329 people, 11,839 horses 77 events over the 186 days it was used. The park spent $2,104,018 to generate $1,103,373 in 2022, which is more than two and half times what it generated a decade ago. Figures show the facility generates about $42 million in related revenue over the course of the year.
Theoretically, maximizing the animal space and adding climate control roughly double the potential usage days.
