Thermal, Calif. – Sept. 5, 2022 – Desert International Horse Park (DIHP) is thrilled to announce Interactive Mortgage will return for the 2022/2023 DIHP show season as title sponsor of the Young Jumper Program, offering $150,000 in prize money and including the hugely successful 10 & Under Young Jumper Futurity Series. After its inaugural year, the class served as an excellent display of young talent on the West Coast, providing thrilling competition and strong prize money for up-and-coming show jumpers.
Conor Swail (IRL) topped the $10,000 Interactive Mortgage 10 & Under Futurity twice last season aboard Like About You.
Winners of the prestigious 10 & Under Young Jumper Futurity Series during its inaugural year feature an international roster, including world-ranked number four Conor Swail (IRL), Kyle King (USA), Eric Navet (FRA), and Matt Williams (AUS). Meant to highlight up-and-coming talent, the class featured elite show jumpers and provided significant prize money for owners and riders of these young talents. The class returns at the $10,000 prize money level during National Sunshine Series and Desert Holiday, then offers $7,500 during the first eight weeks of Desert Circuit.
The Young Jumper Program at Desert International Horse Park for the 2022/2023 season is better than ever before. Along with the 10 & Under Young Jumper Futurity Series, each week will offer 7-Year-Old Jumper Stake money, prize money for 6-year-olds each week, and classes for 4- and 5-year-olds. There has never been such a consistent weekly program with such high prize money for young jumpers on the West Coast.
“Supporting the development of young jumping horses has been a passion of mine for many years,” said Gregg DeLong of Interactive Mortgage. “With the tremendous participation and overwhelming success of these young horse classes this past season at DIHP, we’re excited to return as the sponsor of all Young Jumper classes at DIHP for the 2022/2023 season.”
“The enthusiasm behind the Young Jumper program last season was unmatched, and we are grateful to Interactive Mortgage for their continued support of young superstars coming up through our sport,” remarked Steve Hankin, President and CEO of DIHP. “Because of their contributions, DIHP will continue to serve as a destination for producing young horses and allowing them to reach their full potential.”
The season at DIHP kicks off in early November with the National Sunshine Series, and the first $10,000 Interactive Mortgage 10 & Under Young Jumper Futurity class will take place in the Grand Prix Arena Saturday, November 5, 2022, after which it will take place on a weekly basis throughout the entirety of the season. Be sure to reserve your horse’s stall for National Sunshine Series on September 15, when weekly stalls open.
About Desert International Horse Park
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 multiple weeks of world-class equestrian 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.