Horses and Women Aid to Zoo

HORSES & WOMEN AID to ZO0

Horses have long been major contributors to Arizona progress. They have worked along side men and women to pioneer new places and tame rugged areas. Thus it is fitting that the spirited beauty and high-stepping power of the nation's top horses will again be harnessed to help bring progress to one of the state's most popular places - the Phoenix Zoo.

In 1974, for the twelfth consecutive year, horses of many breeds and many of the nation's leading riders and drivers will participate in the Aid-to-Zoo National Horse Show, scheduled for February at Veteran's Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix. Sponsored by the Phoenix Zoo Auxiliary since its inception in the resort setting of the prestigious Arizona Biltmore Stables, the event has grown to rank among the ten best horse shows in the nation.

More than 800 horses from 25 states will fill both indoor and outdoor arenas with action as they vie for over $70,000 in prizes. The colorful program, which includes classes for jumpers, three and five-gaited saddle horses, harness ponies, Tennessee Walkers and western pleasure horses, has evolved into a major attraction for horsemen, Arizona residents and tourists alike. But more importantly, these horses have produced earning power which has enabled the Phoenix Zoo to make a difficult uphill climb. As the show grew, the animal facility expanded and, within a decade after its birth, became one of the top ten zoos in the United States. In zoological memberships it ranks second only to the renowned San Diego Zoo.

Horse show spectators often visit the Phoenix Zoo to see results achieved with funds from previous A-to-Z Horse Shows.

The zoo they find is a pleasant retreat created on 123 sprawling acres of desert and rolling terrain adjoining Phoenix and Tempe. The natural desert and landscaped settings provide a versatile environment of mountain, desert, swamp and forest areas for a wide variety of zoo residents.

These include more than 1,050 specimens of 276 species of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates. Natural habitats for these creatures have been approximated throughout the zoo with use of native stone, moats, inclines and gunnite compounds.

It is a far cry from the bars and cold concrete cages once associated with traditional zoos.

The Phoenix Zoo has progressed in many areas since it was founded 11 years ago by the late Dr. Robert E. Maytag. But it has remained true to its original triple purpose as established by that noted philanthropist and conservationist. Its goals are to educate, entertain and conserve. The rambling facility has achieved national recognition for its preservation of endangered species such as the Arabian oryx, and for its family-oriented, entertaining and versatile environment.

Educational programs sponsored by the Zoo Auxiliary and Junior League of Phoenix offer a wide scope of conservation and ecology-oriented subjects. Thousands of children have benefited from pet care classes and an annual summer course in natural history arts and crafts.

The trained animal show, evening concerts and an 11-acre children's zoo are among the most popular features which attracted over 600,000 visitors to the Phoenix Zoo last year.

This zoo is one of few in the nation not subsidized by tax funds. Since it opened on November 21, 1962, the Phoenix Zoo has operated on revenues obtained from donations, memberships and daily admissions. Community involvement on a wide scale helped sustain and improve the facility during the critical periods in its eleven-year history. But the Phoenix Zoo's hard-working auxiliary has continued to be its major benefactor.

The success of the group's annual fund-raising event, the A-to-Z Horse Show, enabled it to contribute more than $300,000 for animal purchases, special exhibits, landscaping and much needed buildings such as the Animal Care Center. Projects the Auxiliary has funded over the years include the zebra-giraffe exhibit which features a naturalistic setting divided by a waterfall; an elephant enclosure; remodeling the animal nursery; construction of the gorilla exhibit; expansion of the alligator exhibit; last year's improvements in the liontiger exhibit; landscaping, picnic tables, office and grounds equipment plus the recent completion of additional restroom facilities throughout the sprawling animal complex. Auxiliary funds have helped the Phoenix Zoo purchase three giraffes, two wallabies, an elephant, zebra and gorilla.

Proceeds from the 1973 A-to-Z Horse Show were pledged toward a new home for the world's rarest primate, the orangutan. The zoo's last existing barred exhibit will be replaced by an open moat orangutan exhibit with a wild colony setting.

Zoo Director Jack Tinker reports that the $53,000 profit from last year's horse show enabled the zoo to make several major improvements. Yet there are still many unmet needs. In addition to new animal exhibits, there are needy projects which necessarily accompany growth. These include an animal food commissary, expansion of sewage and electrical lines, an administration building and food service facilities. The promise of fulfilling these and other needs beckons horses and Phoenix Zoo patrons to the horse show Carol Osman Brown arena.