About
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.
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.
Having just begun to make our vision a reality in August of 2019, we now have a core group of experts to kick our plans into gear. The Desert Horse Park International team continues to grow as we seek to achieve our goals for an excellent customer experience. This section will continue to grow as our desert team comes together.
Meet Our Team
Steve Hankin
President & CEO
Pat Boyle
Show Manager
Skyler Brittner
Scheduling & Technical manager
Phil DeVita
Show Manager
Kyle Gould
Footing Manager
Ashley Keeler
Show Office Manager
Joseph Wilson
Facility Manager
Jeanette Gilbert
Events Manager
Janet Lewis
Sponsorships/Vendors
Tori Bilas
Press & Communications
Nathaniel Neubauer
Chef/Food Service
Brian Wallace
Stabling/Feed Operations
Lyn Nelson
Assistant Office Manger/Results
Announcements
Claire Robinson Sails to U25 Victories To Conclude Desert Dressage II
Claire Robinson went a year and a half before she could really nail the flying changes on her horse Glamour Boy. It was love at first sight for Robinson’s mother, Carol, so the U25 competitor came home with the horse, who Carol owns, in 2018. “He was the sort of horse...
Mopsie Can Move: Steffen Peters and Suppenkasper Top FEI Dressage World Cup™️ Grand Prix Freestyle
Steffen Peters (USA) surprised no one as he and Suppenkasper took the win in Saturday’s FEI Dressage World Cup™️ Grand Prix Freestyle, presented by EurEquine Stallions, at Desert International Horse Park (DIHP). Performing the same Freestyle he debuted in Tokyo just...
Steffen Peters and Suppenkasper Step to Victory at Desert Dressage II
Desert Dressage II, presented by Adequan®, got underway Friday, November 18, at Desert International Horse Park (DIHP) as part of the Desert Dressage series, presented by the Brad & Kathy Coors Family. The first of three CDI World Cup Qualifying events, Desert...
Twice is Nice for Michelle Berry in $30,000 1.40m Classic
Michelle Berry braided a variety of “good luck” charms into Mecho Van’t Kiezelhof’s mane for the $30,000 1.40m Adeptus Open Classic Sunday afternoon of National Sunshine Series II. Considering she won the class last week, she may not have needed too much extra luck,...
Quintana and Catoki Boy Capture $100,000 FarmVet Grand Prix
There’s a new name in the desert, and it’s Jose Maria Quintana. The 20-year-old has taken California by storm recently, and it was no different at Desert International Horse Park (DIHP) as he bested 51 entries aboard Catoki Boy to win the $100,000 FarmVet Grand Prix...
Seeing Double for Nick Haness and HH Elmo
Nick Haness’s partnership with HH Elmo just keeps getting better. Just seven days after he won the $100,000 WCHR West Coast Hunter Spectacular with Lindsay Maxwell’s 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Verdi x Padinus), he took top honors yet again, this time in the...
Kinsella Brings Nothing But Quality to National Sunshine Series
One victory at the Desert Internatonal Horse Park (DIHP) National Sunshine Series was not enough for Mark Kinsella. Aboard his second-place mount in Wednesday’s $10,000 Welcome Speed, Quality H, Kinsella took the win Thursday in the $30,000 Ritz Carlton 1.45m Open...
Mark Kinsella Scores a One-Two Finish in $10,000 Welcome Speed
Mark Kinsella is back at Desert International Horse Park (DIHP), and he made his presence known as he finished in both first and second place in Wednesday’s $10,000 Run A Mok 1.35m Welcome Speed to kick off week two of the National Sunshine Series. Aboard Ben...
Young and Hungry: Michelle Berry Beats Out Professionals to Claim $30,000 1.40m Open Classic
Thirteen years old is not the age when most junior riders find themselves winning open classes against the best professionals on the West Coast, but that’s exactly what 13-year-old Michelle Berry did Sunday morning in the $30,000 Brown Advisory Open 1.40m Classic....
James Arkins Reveals a Star in $100,000 Hygain Feeds Grand Prix
James Arkins’ trip to Desert International Horse Park (DIHP) was a long one, but it was well worth it. Recently he relocated his top horse Eurostar 1 to the states, and following an appearance at the FEI World Championships, the pair took the number one spot in the...