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
Sean Leckie Lands the Win in $10,000 1.35m Welcome Speed
Desert International Horse Park (DIHP) kicked off its second week of Desert Circuit competition Wednesday with the $10,000 Platinum Performance 1.35m Welcome Speed. Colm Quinn’s course presented an interesting line up of challenges, featuring multiple combinations,...
Amy Millar Tapped to Host Exclusive Prestige Youth Cup Clinic at Desert International Horse Park
Thermal, Calif. – In 2021, Prestige Italia established the Prestige Youth Cup, sponsoring Children's Jumper Classic events worldwide and offering the unique opportunity to qualify for and compete in world-class clinics with top athlete clinicians. With the goal of...
Irene Neuwirth Dazzles in Tucci Amateur-Owner Hunter Classic
Irene Neuwirth kicked off Desert Circuit in style Sunday by winning the Tucci 3’3”/3’6” Amateur-Owner Hunter Classic aboard Juan Carlos. With sky-high scores, Neuwirth and the 10-year-old Holsteiner put in beautiful rounds under the desert sun to take home top honors....
Skylar Wireman Can’t be Stopped in $30,000 1.40m Open Classic
Skylar Wireman was dearly missed during the fall season at Desert International Horse Park (DIHP), but the 18-year-old newly turned professional has taken Desert Circuit I by storm, taking her third major victory Sunday in the $30,000 Marshall & Sterling 1.40m...
Steffen Peters and Suppenkasper Go Three for Three at Desert Dressage
Steffen Peters said as international competition got underway at Desert Dressage II that he believed it would take three CDI World Cup victories to earn the points necessary for 2023 FEI World Cup Finals in Omaha. On Saturday afternoon at Desert Dressage IV, he and...
Leave it to the Pros: Skylar Wireman Wins First Grand Prix as a Professional Rider
Skylar Wireman’s professional career is off to a flaming start. After an incredible junior career, the 18-year-old has turned professional and is lighting up the jumper ring. Saturday afternoon of Desert Circuit I, aboard Coolio 23, she took home one of the biggest...
Steffen Peters Prevails in Opening Day of Desert Dressage IV
Steffen Peters (USA) is on his way to a clean sweep of CDIW action, taking another victory in the desert Friday afternoon to open international competition at Desert Dressage IV. Aboard Akiko Yamazaki and Four Winds Farm’s Suppenkasper, the Olympian rode to a score of...
Lexi Karoyli Captures Victory in $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby – Open
Lexi Karolyi came out strong during her first derby of the winter season at Desert International Horse Park (DIHP). In Friday’s $10,000 Platinum Performance USHJA National Hunter Derby - Open during Desert Circuit I, she took the top call aboard C’Est Jolie, owned by...
King of the Ring: Odysseus and Kyle King Claim $30,000 1.45m Open Classic
Kyle King exploded into the world rankings over the past couple years and his 2023 season is off to an equally explosive start, as he took the win in Thursday’s $30,000 FarmVet 1.45m Open Classic at Desert International Horse Park (DIHP). Aboard Patricia Vase’s...
Skylar Wireman Makes Triumphant Return to Desert Horse Park
Skylar Wireman competed in the very first class of her professional career Wednesday morning of Desert Circuit I and ended up atop the leaderboard. Having traveled across the East Coast throughout the end of 2022, racking up numerous equitation final top placings, the...