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
Tori Bilas
Press & Communications
Nathaniel Neubauer
Chef/Food Service
Brian Wallace
Stabling/Feed Operations
Lyn Nelson
Assistant Office Manger/Results
Announcements
Desert International Horse Park Announces 2023/2024 Hunter/Jumper Show Dates
Thermal, Calif. – Desert International Horse Park (DIHP) is pleased to present the preliminary show dates for the 2023/2024 season of hunter/jumper action at its facility in Thermal, CA. With 14 weeks of competition, the season will span November 1, 2023, through...
Nick Haness Goes Two-For-Two in $50,000 Butet USHJA International Hunter Derby
If you’re feeling a bit of déjà vu from the most recent International Hunter Derby during Desert Circuit V, you’re not alone. On Friday of Desert Circuit VIII, Nick Haness piloted Estimated Prophet, owned by Roaring Fork Farms LLC, to a repeat win in the $50,000 Butet...
Shauna Cook and Caya Capture CWD CSI3* Two Phase
Shauna Cook’s (CAN) mount Caya is like a box of chocolates: you never really know what you’re going to get. But for Cook, that’s what makes it so fun. Thursday at Desert International Horse Park (DIHP) was extra fun for Cook and her team, earning the win with Caya in...
James Chawke Conquers New Terrain in $10,000 Adequan Welcome Speed
Three in a row sounds pretty nice to James Chawke. The Irishman has pulled off a hat trick, having topped the three most recent Welcome Speed classes at Desert Circuit, taking his third victory Wednesday in the $10,000 Adequan® 1.35m Welcome Speed with his trusty...
Desert International Horse Park to Award Top Jock Tack Boxes to Desert Circuit Leading Riders
Thermal, Calif. – Desert International Horse Park (DIHP) will award the leading open jumper rider and leading hunter rider from the 2023 Desert Circuit a brand-new Top Jock Double Door Tack Box during Week IX of Desert Circuit. The Top Jock Double Door Box features a...
Homebred Hero: Katie Laurie and Django II Take $145,100 CSI3* TALUS Grand Prix
Luckily for Katie Laurie (AUS), she knows Django II like the back of her hand. She had a couple advantages on her side Sunday of Desert Circuit VII, ultimately bringing home the win in the $145,100 CSI3* TALUS Grand Prix. The first advantage was being last in the...
Karrie Rufer Raises Her Glass in $50,000 National Grand Prix
Karrie Rufer has known for quite some time that she had a special horse on her hands with Stern Dei Folletti. Now, with several grand prix and FEI wins under their belts, the rest of the world knows it too. Saturday afternoon, she and the Morning Star...
Ali Ramsay Realizes True Talent with Conrado 12 in $38,700 CSI3* Speed
The Canadian anthem played a second time in the Grand Prix Arena during Desert Circuit VII as Ali Ramsay (CAN) took victory in the $38,700 Ramard CSI3* 1.50m Speed. Aboard Conrado 12, as second to last in the starting order, Ramsay took her second FEI win of the...
Vanessa Mannix Meets Her Match in Bridgeport Farms CSI3* Two Phase
Vanessa Mannix’s (CAN) New Year’s resolution was to go faster. Her speed gears have kicked up a notch every week through the season at Desert International Horse Park (DIHP), and during Desert Circuit VII, she got the win she’d been vying for all season. Aboard...
James Chawke’s Luck Runs Strong in $10,000 Voltaire Design Welcome Speed
Anyone watching Wednesday’s $10,000 Voltaire Design 1.35m Welcome Speed to open Desert Circuit VII felt a bit of déjà vu as James Chawke and Gamble took their second consecutive victory in the weekly class at Desert International Horse Park (DIHP). Over Joey Rycroft’s...