Steve Hankin, former CEO and part-owner of Desert International Horse Park (DIHP), is launching a new horse show management venture called Pacific Ridge Show Jumping in Los Angeles. After leaving DIHP in August, Steve aims to address the lack of high-quality horse shows in L.A., the second-largest U.S. city, by hosting a nine-week series of regional and national hunter/jumper competitions at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center (LAEC) in Burbank. The LAEC, a 75-acre facility with 14 rings and 460 show stalls, once hosted World Cup qualifiers but has lacked consistent top-level events recently. Steve hopes Pacific Ridge Show Jumping will revitalize the venue, offering more accessible and varied competition options tailored to riders’ needs, including shorter national shows and new regional events.
The partnership with LAEC and its management by Legends Global is expected to bring renewed energy and potentially lead to facility improvements, as the horse community rallies around the venue’s potential. Steve emphasizes a customer-focused approach, drawing on lessons from his previous experience at DIHP to balance sport and entertainment while addressing affordability and accessibility. With a commitment to making LAEC their long-term home, Pacific Ridge Show Jumping aims to create a vibrant, competitive horse show environment that better serves the L.A. equestrian community.
