If you’re a horse lover or a lucky owner of equestrian homes, then you’re probably already a fan of Horse Shows in the Sun (HITS) Thermal Desert Circuit Show. This six week circuit runs annually from January – March, and is a mainstay of West Coast competition. In its 21st year, the show takes place at the HITS Desert Horse Park in Thermal, California, which is just minutes away from Palm Desert and the other desert cities. HITS is the winter show home to some of the best and most accomplished equestrian riders in the world, such as United States Olympic Gold Medalist Will Simpson and Canadian Olympian Jill Henselwood.
HITS offers an amazing opportunity to watch as riders and their horses jump, leap and gallop in a thrilling circuit of events that are judged on style, grace, presentation and appearance. During this six-week event, more than 3000 horses, 10,000 riders and nearly 30,000 spectators are expected to attend. Equestrians and their fans will visit from all over the world—and many will take the time to browse luxury homes in Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert and other areas of the posh desert communities.
HITS takes place this year from January 22-March 17.There is no better opportunity to watch world-class thoroughbreds and champion equestrians compete in 16 Grand prix events. In addition, there is cool shopping, great food, fun music and other unique activities that are perfect for the entire family. It’s a great way to unwind after looking at equestrian homes and other luxury homes in Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert and La Quinta.
Admission to HITS Thermal is free from Tuesday through Saturday and $5 per person on Sunday entry. Children under 12 are permitted to enter free of charge. The event takes place Tuesday through Sunday from 8 am to 4 pm. For more information, visit hitsshows.com.
image: militarystables.com
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Stop in for a drink and make some new friends!!
Way over on the East side of the Palm Springs Valley are some really fun party spots..
1. The Tackrom Tavern: This place can rock it out! Outdoor area for the live bands which can range from local bands to rockabilly, soul, jazz, trios, country western, blues..you just never know for sure what to expect. Kareoke is also available here. Casual atmosphere..players come over after the games and golfers stop in after golfing. If you want to get gussied up, that’s ok too…the food is good and basic. Steak, fish, chips and salsa, salads..but good and well priced too. Drinks are generous and again…well priced.
2. The Date Shed: This is the party spot for the younger group. Music Festival hopefuls test their skills and reception with the crowds here. The dance floor is huge, the stage is central and raised and the acoustics are famous!
After watching a polo game at either Eldorado or Empire, come on over to one of the venues available for fun..don’t forget The Cantina right next door at Eldorado Polo club too. Roc’s Firehouse does the cooking and it’s been renovated as of last year.
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Land and Ranches..now’s the time to List!
It just may be the BEST time to list your vacant land, farm or ranch in the Coachella Valley. Thermal, Coachella, Indio, Vista Santa Rosa..the entire East Valley is SELLING! Now, don’t get too excited..the price/acre is nowhere near where it was during the “boom”, but we haven’t seen much land move at all for the past 3 years. But things are starting to pop in our Eastern Palm Springs Valley.
The past 6 months have seen as many parcels SOLD! From small parcels, with and without wells, commercially zoned land way out next to the Kohl Ranch Project, and medium sized farms..there are buyers hovering around. Equestrian zoning is often requested, wells are fantastic, some improvements such as fencing, irrigation and perhaps barns are really increase the price/acre.
Vista Santa Rosa and Thermal land price/acre is settling at approx. $22-30,000/acre. I know that’s still a little depressing for you land owners if you were still remembering the $150-$250,000/acre that land was bringing when the developers were building and building out here! But..at least we know what it’s worth, right? Kind of similar to the low end housing market that had to keep dropping until it hit that “sweet spot” that Buyers were waiting for. Then the decrease stopped..and in fact it’s increased! I suspect our Land is doing just that now
Thinking of listing your land, ranch or equestrian property? Don’t wait too long..season is here!
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Stellar Views South and West!
This ideally located income producing farm has just been reduced for the 2013 season to $33,000/acre. A total price of $945,000. Stats for this farm are as follows..
Location: Corner of 53rd/Calhoun. Two paved roads, and approx. 5 minutes from the Polo Clubs and 10 minutes from grocery stores, cleaners, pharmacy, coffee shop. Old Town La Quinta is 10 minutes away also.
Features: Private Well that is approx. 500 ft. deep. CVWD water for irrigation. Small home that rents for approx. $500/month and is currently rented. Out-buildings that are currently rented for approx. $1,000/mo. Well irrigated alfalfa fields that produce approx. 7-9 cuts/yr.
Zoning: A-2 Two homes/acre. Could easily be sub-divided into 4 parcels and the well would serve all 4 parcels.
Recent Sales in the immediate area: In the past 6 months there have been 4 land parcels sold within a couple miles of this lovely ranch. Price/acre has ranged from $22,000-$26,000/acre. Those ranches were not located as close to La Quinta nor were they already under work like this one is.
Grab this farm if you are looking this season..the phone has been ringing!
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The east end of the Palm Springs Valley is home to Vista Santa Rosa, an unincorporated area of beautiful equestrian properties and agricultural farms. It encompasses approx. 14 sq. miles and is bordered on 3 sides by La Quinta, Indio and Coachella. There have been ongoing rumblings of Vista Santa Rosa being annexed into La Quinta or Indio, but who knows what will happen with that… or when?
Meanwhile, check out Deer Creek Equestrian Center, a polo pony training facility located in this peacefulrural part of the Valley. Once you enter the gates of this active equestrian community, you will drive down its streets lined with olive trees, eucalyptus and date palms. Deer Creek offers 5 to 10 acre private ranchettes, each separated with white safety-vinyl fencing. Owners have the privilege of using the 20 acre polo field and exercise track.
Deer Creek is an HOA maintained property at the cost of approx. $750/mo. Some of the ranchettes boast custom homes and others offer park models..but there are codes for building here. It’s a unique and special place for horse lovers in our Palm Springs Valley!
Deer Creek was founded by actor Bill Devane with the intention of bringing together like minded people to enjoy horses in a beautiful countrified setting. It is a tightly knit community with players of varying levels and where enjoyment and love of the game are paramount. Ideally located in the heart of Horse Country, Empire and Eldorado Polo Clubs are less than a 5 minute drive away. Als0 close by is a State park with riding trails and a lake, Desert HITS Equestrian Center and the Jacqueline Cochran private airport.
So, if you have a bent for the Equestrian and are looking for the perfect area to buy or build your dream ranch, Deer Creek in Vista Santa Rosa may just be the place for you. Give Kimberley Kelly a call . . . she is a realtor with HK Lane Real Estate in La Quinta and can help you find that perfect horse property. Being an Equestrian herself, and having played polo for several decades now, Kimberley is extremely knowledgable about the horse world.
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Even if you don’t play polo, but just love a rustic atmosphere that is classy and classic, not stuffy? Then the Tack Room Tavern . . . or Tack Room as most patrons call it . . . is just the place for you. It’s on the grounds of the beautiful Empire Polo Club in Indio and serves a full lunch and dinner menu every day . . . with Happy Hour from 4 until 7 nightly. There are cozy booths, saddle chairs and barstools around the bar with flat screen TVs placed about for sports-minded folks.
The staff is as warm and welcoming as the decor, making you feel right at home and treating you like a regular – even if you’re not. Most people dress down, but honestly, you can come to the Tack Room right off of the polo field and not feel underdressed. In fact, this is the crowd that is catered to here and everyone else just fits right in.
There is live music out on the pation at the Tack Room on Friday and Saturday nights. I’ve heard Rockabilly there . . . some Hard Rock too. They like to mix it up. You can even get up a shake a leg if you feel like it . . . it’s just that kind of place. Sitting outside in the fresh air on the patio and having some good down to earth yummy food and refreshment is pretty close to heaven. On Thursday nights, you can have some fun with Karaoke and Warren the Spin Doctor.
Hey, did I forget to tell you about the food? The food is yummy at the Tack Room Tavern. There are daily lunch and dinner specials and homemade soups, as well as standard favorites such as the Tack Room Wedge, Empire Polo Club Sandwich, “10 Goal” Kobe Style Burger, Pony Goal Tuna Croissant for lunch . . . and for dinner, try the Signature Rib Eye Steak, Baby Back Ribs, Cordon Bleu Chicken or delicious whitefish dish. There is a full wine list, beer menu, specialty drinks and an extensive tequila and scotch selection as well.
So if you’ve never taken the drive out to the Tack Room Tavern in Indio to partake of its down home hospitality, it’s your time. Right now, things are laid back and easy for the summer season. Come on down to the ranch, I’ll save you a seat at the bar. You’ll be glad you did.
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Eldorado merges with Golden Voice
If you thought the Coachella Valley Music & Art Festival could not get any bigger, think again. Golden Voice, which operates the Festival, has just partnered with the Lake Farm owners of Eldorado Polo Club in it’s quest to increase the holdings for the Festival here in the Coachella Valley. Eldorado Polo Club sits on some of the most desirable acreage in the Valley and consists of 13 polo fields, a clubhouse, Cantina/restaurant and acres of stalls and corrals.
It’s not clear if Golden Voice actually purchased the polo club, but that may be the case. They are promising Polo as it’s always gone on..but better. During the festival, the fields will be converted into parking, tent cities and all the other things a music festival of this magnitude requires. The Coachella Music & Arts Festival is heading into it’s 12th year of continued growth and success. Now running for 2 weeks, including the ever growing Stagecoach Festival of Country Music greats, this recent purchase ensures the Music Festivals presence in the Valley for years to come…and sounds like the continued presence of the famous polo club and all the revenue the players/grooms/families and their ponies bring to the East Valley.
If you are thinking of buying a home in Indio or the East Valley..now may be much better than later.
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Polo Clubs in the Palm Springs Valley
Deer Creek Equestrian Center
There are two Internationally recognized Polo Clubs in the Palm Springs Valley. Both are located in the Eastern side of the Coachella Valley (Palm Springs Valley and Coachella Valley are synonymous). The Eastern side of the Valley is much less developed and has a wonderful rural feel. There are many housing developments of course, (See La Quinta, Indio, Thermal and Vista Santa Rosa), but there is also a surreal feel to this side of our Valley.
The two polo clubs, Eldorado and Empire, occupy hundreds of acres of open land. There are approximately 20 playing fields between the two clubs, with each polo field being about the size of 9 football fields! Polo is a huge industry to the Eastern Valley bringing in approx. 1,000 horses each season, some 250 players and their families and grooms. Housing leases and sales occur along with all of our polo visitors..good for our Valley!
The Polo season starts in mid-November and goes through mid-April. Games are played Weds., through Sundays. Practices are Weds., and Thursday, with tournaments being played on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The game to catch is always the 2 pm game on Sunday. This is the Featured match, complete with announcer, play areas for the kids, champagne half-time divot stomp and sometimes balloon rides! It’s quite a show, and the best thing is that games are often free or perhaps a minimum fee of $5/car for entry.
The Eldorado Polo Club
Eldorado is our older club; 2012 is it’s 55th year of play! The club is open to all, and Sunday tail-gaters are welcome.
Location: 50950 Madison St., Indio
General Information: 760-342-2223
Game Schedule: 760-342-4133
The Empire Polo Club
The Empire Polo Club is adjacent to the Eldorado Polo Club and is owned by the Haagen Family. Started in 1987, new Fields are being added on an annual basis. There are now 9 fields, and a Polo Arena with lights, for night polo games! All games are free and the schedule is the same for both clubs.
The Empire Polo club also hosts many different events. From weddings, to corporate events to sweet 16 celebrations, the club with it’s four different event sites is unique and beautiful. Perhaps the most famous event of the Empire Polo Club is the Coachella Music and Art Festival held for two weekends in April.
Location: Main entrance is on Monroe St. and 51st ave.
General Information: 760-342-2762
Game Schedule: 760-342-9111
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Palm Springs Valley Boarding Facilities
There are many Boarding and training facilities located in the Palm Springs Valley. If we consider the city of Palm Springs as the Western edge of our Valley, and Thermal as our Eastern edge, here are a few of the boarding facilities available to horse owners who live or visit the Palm Springs area.
Smoke Tree Stables, Palm Springs:
Family owned an operated for over 60 years, this private stable is with the Smoke Tree Ranch. Boarding, training, and guided trail rides are available.
Location:
2500 S. Toledo Ave. Palm Springs, CA. 760-327-1372
Clancy Lane Boarding Stables, Rancho Mirage:
This private stable is ideally located on the prestigious street of Clancy Ln. off of Bob Hope Dr. in Rancho Mirage. A full-service boarding facility with an air-conditioned barn, box stalls and outside corrals. Top level training and riding instruction is also available.
Location:
Clancy Ln., Rancho Mirage 760-773-5080, 909-856-5565
Coyote Ridge Stables, Morongo Valley:
Coyote Ridge Stables has been in business for over 15 years and is owned and operated by Sue Lund and Sally Ellis. All rides through the gorgeous Canyons of the Morongo Valley are accompanies by experienced Guides.
Location:
50639 Panorama Dr., Morongo Valley, CA. 760-363-3380
Rancho Polo Equestrian:
Rancho Polo is a polo and hunter jumper boarding facility in Thermal, CA. Offering on site training, stabling and turn out pastures, this equestrian facility is full-service. A galloping track, polo field, and various sized arenas are available for Boarders. Close to the HITS horseshow, it is a favorite amongst horseshow participants for seasonal boarding.
Location:
Ave. 58, Thermal CA. Mary at 760-250-5707
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