DESERT INTERNATIONAL HORSE PARK ADDS ADDITIONAL WEEK TO DESERT DRESSAGE COMPETITION
For Immediate Release:
THERMAL, Calif. – Sep. 10, 2020 – Desert International Horse Park (DIHP) in Thermal, California, is thrilled to announce the expansion of its dressage program with the addition of another week in November to create a two-week circuit.
Desert Dressage was originally slated to run as a stand alone show from Nov. 19 – 22, but the expansion has now created Desert Dressage I (Nov. 12 – 15) and Desert Dressage II (Nov. 19 – 22). Both weeks will feature an FEI Dressage World Cup™ Qualifier combined with a CDI3*/CDI1*/CDIAm/CDIU25/CDIY/CDIJ/CDICh/CDIP/CDIYH and a national show.
“We are so excited to expand our Desert Dressage competition to a total of two weeks and further develop opportunities for Dressage riders to compete on the West Coast,” shared Steve Hankin, President and CEO of DIHP. “The addition of the first week will take advantage of our existing team in place headed by Thomas Baur and Monica Fitzgerald. I would like to extend my thanks and appreciation to Barbara Biernat for her assistance in this expansion.”
Baur is the current Sports Director of the Adequan Global Dressage Festival in Wellington, Florida. “To start our inaugural Dressage season at the Desert International Horse Park with now two CDIs and two national shows is an instrumental win for the West Coast dressage community,” shared Baur. “The facility offers excellent conditions for hosting a safe show for two consecutive weeks.”
Biernat originally pioneered Pacific Coast CDI after seeing the decline of dressage circuits on the West Coast over the past few years. Pacific Coast CDI consisted of two dates: Mar. 3 – 8 and Nov. 12 – 15.
“I got two dates on the calendar for Pacific Coast CDI and I’m happy to have Desert Dressage take over the Nov. 12 – 15 date,” shared Biernat. “Having two weeks of dressage shows in one venue makes Desert Dressage a very easy destination for the riders and horses because there is no extra packing or travel.”
Since the acquisition in August of 2019, the new partners have made significant investments in the horse park to improve the experience for riders, exhibitors, and fans. With these improvements, DIHP is seeing interest in the expansion of its calendar across equestrian disciplines, including these two weeks of Desert Dressage.
The Prize List will be available on Desert International Horse Park’s website in the coming weeks. To learn more about the horse park, go to www.deserthorsepark.com, and receive updates on social media @deserthorsepark.
About Desert International Horse Park (DIHP)
With nearly 1.3 million square feet of competition and riding space, the Desert International Horse Park is one of the largest equestrian facilities in North America. Offering 17 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.
About Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI)
The Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) is a service organization committed to providing its members and the greater equestrian community with solid leadership and good governance at all levels – from grassroots to the very top – whilst encouraging best practice and good horsemanship at all times and all over the world. We are proactive and positive in our outlook and we fully stand by our mission to celebrate the unique bond between horse and human (#TwoHearts) and to develop equestrian sport globally in a modern, sustainable and structured manner with guaranteed athlete welfare, equal opportunity and ethical partnership with the horse.