The 2023 edition of Desert Holiday, featuring two consecutive weeks of National and FEI show jumping hosted at the Desert International Horse Park (DIHP) in Thermal, CA, will bring over $2.5 million in prize money and many notable Olympic-caliber athletes to the Coachella Valley in early December.In its third year hosting the Finals for the Major League Show Jumping (MLSJ) tour, this year’s Desert Holiday features the inaugural $1 Million CSI5* Coachella Cup Grand Prix, presented by Brown Advisory, on Saturday, December 2. The class, which is the only million-dollar FEI grand prix in the United States, will serve as the individual final for the 2023 MLSJ season and will feature six of the top 20 riders in the world.
The MLSJ Team Final, hosted by Visit Greater Palm Springs, offering another $1,000,000 in prize money and bonuses on Saturday, December 9, promises to close out week two of this annual event on a high note for both competitors and spectators alike.
Kicking off November 28, 2023, and spanning two weeks of CSI5* and CSI2* show jumping competition – as well as the finale of Major League Show Jumping and both National and International USHJA Hunter Derbies – Desert Holiday is a highlight of the show season for riders from across the United States, Canada, and internationally. And with more than $2.5 million in prize money, Desert Holiday 2023 will be one of the richest events in U.S. show jumping competition history.
“Our mission at DIHP has always been to grow the sport, and these two weeks are a huge step towards making that mission a reality,” remarked Steve Hankin, President and CEO of DIHP. “These two weeks always bring the most exciting sport, the most dedicated fans, and an overall thrilling environment. It is our duty to raise the level every year to continue what we set out to do, which is elevate the sport on the West Coast. We can’t wait to see who walks away with the Coachella Cup trophy and title in its inaugural year.”
“We thought the finish last year couldn’t have been better, but this year we’ve got the home team in the running for the overall title,” said MLSJ co-founder Keean White. “It has always been amazing sport here at MLSJ and Desert Horse Park has done the last two years hosting us. They’ve really brought this park to an incredible level and to this year host the million-dollar final and million-dollar Coachella Cup here, we owe huge gratitude to the whole team. They’ve done an incredible job. This season has been exciting, fun, a great way to build, and we’re ending with the biggest bang we can imagine.”
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.