DIHP Newsletter #10

Week VIII Is Here!

(with no rain in sight☺)

It is hard to believe that Desert Circuit Week VIII is here. When the skies opened up and we started hearing about COVID-19 for the first time twelve months ago, who would have predicted what was to unfold? Against all odds, we are approaching our last week of Desert Circuit 2021 and our eighteenth week of competition this season. Talk has turned to vaccines, summer plans, and optimism about life returning to normal. 

We have a fantastic week planned for our last week here in the desert. The big events couldn’t be bigger, with our FEI CSI 4* and $250,000 Grand Prix, the Ronnie Mutch Equitation Championship, and the $100,000 WCHR West Coast Hunter Spectacular. With strong participation, the competition will continue to be fierce across every division that we run. It will be a great time to capture that first, or another, blue ribbon!

Like an awards show, we have too many people to thank for the success of our second season. The list is long. We appreciate the support we received from Riverside County and the confidence they had in us to be able to run safely. The team at AMR provided top-notch medical response but also supported us with the County and provided the needed nod of confidence that we could run during a pandemic. Every single member of our team, from the office to the gate to the maintenance team raised their game to make sure we could meet everyone’s expectations. In a pandemic year, our sponsors and vendors stepped up during considerable uncertainty. 

Mostly, we owe thanks to every trainer and exhibitor who had confidence in us this year and attended our events. COVID-19, and more recently EHV-1, protocols tested everyone. We, like you, long for the days of sitting by the ring on a seat next to a friend. We appreciate your patience as we learn and improve. We took note of all of the suggestions, including parking and security, and aspire more than ever that everyone see a part of themselves in the horse park over time.  

We start construction hours after competition ends on Sunday afternoon, with a long list of projects intended to continue our efforts to build a truly international competition facility. These include the replacement of the Grand Prix and GP schooling footing, completion of the landscaping in the hunter competition area, redesign of Jumper 3 equitation ring, expansion of the bridle path, and a new 5* grass competition field. When you get back you’ll find we used every day of the off-season to improve the horse park. 

Finally, we look forward to welcoming everyone back here in the fall for the 2021/2022 season, absent a few things we are glad to see in the rear-view window – masks, temp checks, hand sanitizer, protocols…

Have a great summer of riding and we hope to #seeyouinthedesert this fall!

Steve