DIHP Newsletter #3

It is hard to believe entries are due tomorrow and we are only 29 days from the start of National Sunshine Series (NSS) competition. We are incredibly excited to have you join us for our “first show.”

It has only been seven weeks since we closed on the acquisition of DIHP. There is a ton of work going on and we wanted to highlight a few of the things you’ll see when you get here. We’re hopeful you both notice the changes and have some patience with us as we work on some of the items that have a longer lead time. There is, of course, a lot more to do.

Celebrating the sport, success in the ring – large and small, and everyone involved in making riders successful is something that is of huge importance to us at DIHP. So you’ll see changes in everything from ribbons and prizes to award celebrations. I’m thrilled to announce that Jen Glass will be joining us to lead our awards efforts. For those of you who have been on the receiving end of an award from Jen, you know how special it feels. For those of you who have not met Jen, you’ll find her most weeks at the biggest shows in the country, including this week at Capital Challenge. Undoubtedly, she will add an immeasurable touch to making everyone feel special here at DIHP.

Along with exhibitors, trainers, and owners, another group of folks we want to take care of is grooms. We all know grooms make all the difference in our success getting to the ring and at the ring. We were asked to make sure grooms had showers on the property to use during the many hours that they are here, and so we have added two portable shower trailers for groom use at NSS. They’ll be positioned on the road between the permanent barns and the tents. And every Monday afternoon, starting with NSS II, we’ll be hosting a barbecue for grooms on the property (we’re thrilled to partner with Horsetaxi on this important initiative).

Around the facility, we have installed temporary power to ensure there is adequate power for everyone’s use. For example, we are adding extra outlets at every tent. Speaking of tents, we think you’ll find them spotless as our favorite tool seems to be our new power washing machines. We’ve gone power wash happy on everything at the park: tents, barns, and buildings. We hope you’ll find the place a bit cleaner.

Plus, we are making improvements to the farrier station. We know the sun is pretty tough in that area in the afternoon so we’ll be adding a shade structure there along with new mats and lighting.

We can’t wait to #seeyouinthedesert!