OUR DESERT HOME
With nearly 1.6 million square feet of competition and riding space, the Desert International Horse Park is one of the largest equestrian facilities in North America. Offering 15 weeks of world-class competition from October through March, the facility is a destination location for thousands of equestrians, their horses, family and friends for several months annually. Competitors from all over the world travel to Thermal, CA to not only compete but to enjoy everything the desert has to offer.
Surrounded by the beauty of picturesque mountains, the Desert International Horse Park is close to Palm Springs, Desert Hot Springs, La Quinta, Coachella and more unique places to discover. The area is known for its resort lifestyle with a selection of fine dining, art & film festivals, golf & tennis, outdoor adventures, and wonderful warm, dry weather in the winter months. As the Greater Palm Springs Convention & Visitors Bureau claims, come #findyouroasis in the desert.
Facility Map
Our Mission
At Desert International Horse Park, we aspire to build the equestrian sport on the West Coast and ensure that West Coast athletes have an equal opportunity to enjoy the sport and achieve their aspirations regardless of what those may be, at an internationally-recognized horse park. We are proud to be a strong partner for everyone involved in the sport on the West Coast, and we hold ourselves to the highest standards, knowing the sport and athletes in California deserve the best.
At DIHP, we are focused on the following core principles:
The horse park is as good as it gets:
From the beginning, our focus was on par with other great horse parks around the world. We are proud to have a Grand Prix ring and Grass Field that riders and horses say “they love.” It’s why we build a bridle path that riders and horses say “they love.” It’s why all of our stalls are now 12×12. It’s why riders, horses, and dogs say “they love” our grazing field and why we just planted trees throughout it. Our focus now is on ensuring the park looks great every day, is clean, is free of maintenance problems, the trees and shrubbery are well watered and always trimmed, and dust is kept to a minimum. We aim to continue to add to the beauty that has become our horse park. We hope when you arrive you see our attention to detail, and that it makes you as delighted to be here as we are.
Keeping horses happy and safe, from biosecurity to footing
Quite simply, we put horses first. Ensuring horses are safe and comfortable is always our top priority. We make sure that everywhere a horse roams, it is going to step on good ground, free of debris and safe for the job intended. We’re proud to be the only horse park in the U.S. with a dedicated biosecurity officer. We know there is always room to improve, but we have set the bar high on this front.
Running a good horse show
Quite simply, we put horses first. Ensuring horses are safe and comfortable is always our top priority. We make sure that everywhere a horse roams, it is going to step on good ground, free of debris and safe for the job intended. We’re proud to be the only horse park in the U.S. with a dedicated biosecurity officer. We know there is always room to improve, but we have set the bar high on this front.
Building sport
Top sport has been missing here on the West Coast, and we have to play our part to build it. Simply, the level of competition we put on is essential to building top sport. We must inspire and motivate young riders to become the next generation of top-level riders. We are always so proud when our West Coast riders win around the country. It is a tribute to our focus on elevating the quality of sport here.
Making the horse park your happy place
Our team is committed to making your time with us memorable for all the right reasons. This is easier to do when you have a dedicated team of people who love what they do. Like you, we are horse people and want the experience to be the best. We need to always find a way to get it done. We seek to constantly surprise you with something positive. And we will do this during week 10, not during just week 1.
OUR TEAM
Finding a fantastic team that puts horses first, while having a keen focus on the rider, trainer, owner and sponsor experience, is a key aspect of our vision. Welcoming a mix of fresh and familiar faces, our goal is to bring in individuals who specialize in creating an excellent show experience.
The Desert Horse Park International team continues to grow as we seek to achieve our goals for an excellent customer experience.
Meet Our Team
Steve Hankin
President & CEO
Pat Boyle
Show Manager
Pat has been putting on fantastic horse shows across the country for over 30 years. He has been a staple in the Chicago show world, running small and large shows at his home base, Ledges. More recently, he took the reins of Pennsylvania National, the Devon Horse Show, the Upperville Colt & Horse Show and the USHJA National Championships in Las Vegas. Pat simply wants to create rings that people can’t wait to compete in!
Skyler Brittner
Scheduling & Technical Manager
Skyler brings 15 years of horse show experience as a core member of the DIHP team. Skyler handles our expanded FEI and jumper program, as well as day-to-day scheduling alongside Ashley. You’ll see his energetic step out and about ensuring that everything goes well in jumper land.
PHIL DEVITA
Show Manager
Phil is a staple in horse show management for boutique and Heritage events on the West Coast, including the Menlo Charity Horse Show and Franktown Meadows Derbies, as well as the Germantown Charity, Chagrin Hunter Jumper, The American Royal and the CFHJA Shows in Tampa. Phil is a second generation horseman and brings many accolades and experience to the DIHP. He has worn many ‘hats’ in the sport, including being a trainer, competitor, course designer, judge and clinician.
Kyle Gould
Footing Manager
Kyle is simply the best in the business. He splits his time between Traverse City, Michigan, assisting Matt Morrissey, and the desert with DIHP. At Thermal, Kyle oversees 1.6 million square feet of competition, schooling and lunging space. Kyle’s design of the new Grand Prix arena has been instrumental in turning DIHP into a destination for high-performance competitors from around the world.
ASHLEY KEELER
Chief Administrative Officer/Show Office Manager
Ashley has been in the horse industry for more than 30 years as a trainer, rider and horse show staff. She has shown all over the country and earned the USEF Amateur-Owner Hunter of the Year title in 2006. Her experience in and out of the horse show arena help her understand all the details that go into a horse show and to better serve our exhibitors. Steve always refers to Ashley as simply the best there is at running a show office.
Joseph Wilson
Facility Manager
Joe and his family have been in the construction business for as long as they can remember, including having spent more than 20 years building horse show facilities. Joe first joined the DIHP team to tackle a few projects, and we never let him leave California. More recently, Joe took over managing the entire 239 acres of DIHP. Everything you see about DIHP that has changed, Joe has had a hand in shaping.
Jessie Ann Green
Special Events Coordinator
Jessie Ann is a lifelong equestrian who started riding in the hunters and equitation at the early age of 4. She has competed on the circuit consistently throughout her riding career, on her college IHSA team,and as an IHSA alumni winning many National accolades throughout her riding career. Her vast experience includes working at USHJA, Alumni Equestrian Events and for a PBR Stock Contractor, Daniels Cattle Co. Even though Jessie Ann is a lifelong hunter and eq rider, she is now dipping her toes into the jumper ring. Jessie Ann got married at the Kentucky Horse Park in the ultimate equestrian dream wedding which she planned. Jessie Ann prides herself in creating unique, detailed and well-organized equestrian events that everyone can enjoy!
Lori Hill
Sponsorship Manager
Emily Randolph
Marketing & Communications Manager
From the moment Emily first heard of equestrian marketing and public relations as a career option, she knew it was the path for her! Throughout the nearly 15 years since then, Emily has worked for the country’s top equestrian agencies and continues to operate her own full-service equestrian public relations firm, RandophPR. Emily now brings her expertise and experience in writing, photography, videography and public relations to the Desert International Horse Park – with her Bernese Mountain Dog in tow!
Nathaniel Neubauer
Chef: VIP/Retail Food/Roadrunners Bar
Nathaniel, CEO of Contemporary Catering, is in charge of feeding humans at DIHP. Contemporary Catering is an extraordinary, full-service catering and event production company. They’ve mastered a custom food and beverage experience unmatched by any horse show nationwide. They utilize local organic produce whenever possible and source sustainable poultry and meat from local ranches. Nathaniel is also taking over service at the bar and a new expanded food program outside of VIP near Jumper 2!
Brian Wallace
Stabling/Feed Operations
Brian serves as a jack of all trades at the horse park. He manages the DIHP RV park, feed & bedding, paddocks and barn customer service. Brain is the go-to person for all challenges our customers face in the back side of DIHP and leads our feed store. His vast experience includes over two decades working with many of the management teams in California, including 10 years of creating and managing his own hunter/jumper events from the ground up.
David Runk
Bio Security Officer
Dr. Runk graduated from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine in 1995. He moved to California to pursue a residency in Large Animal Internal Medicine at UC Davis and received his Board Certification in 1999. Dr. Runk then founded a mobile equine practice and has provided on-site veterinarian coverage for horse shows all over California for the past 24 years. Dr. Runk joined DIHP as the Head of Biosecurity in 2022 and will be returning in that capacity during our upcoming show season.
Jason brink
Security
Sara Nastri
Stall Manager