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Tuesday, January 24 2017 / Published in Weekly Feature

Coachella Valley, California

PGA West Championship Golf Course at La Quinta
Photo courtesy of La Quinta Resort

By Britney Grover

One million dollars: one of the biggest grand prix prizes available in the U.S. and the star of the HITS Coachella Desert Circuit held each year in Thermal, California. The 2017 HITS Desert Series began January 17 and will conclude with the AIG $1 Million Grand Prix on March 19, but watching top jumper riders compete for the cash isn’t the only reason to attend the series: the Thermal and Palm Springs area might just provide a vacation worth a million bucks.

Traci and Carleton Brooks cheer on riders at the HITS Desert Circuit.
Photo courtesy of Traci Brooks

The Desert Series is celebrating its 10th year in the Coachella location, and trainer Traci Brooks has been in attendance each and every year. “I rode as a kid, I rode at summer camp when I was little, then my parents got me lessons, and then it progressed into getting a pony, and it went that way,” Traci said of getting her start in horses. “I think I knew pretty early on that I wanted to be a professional. I was one of those kids that spent all day at the barn, and summers at the barn, and rode anything I could.”

HITS Desert Circuit in Thermal, California.
Photo courtesy of Traci Brooks

Traci and her husband, hunter rider and judge Carleton Brooks, operate Balmoral Farm, with locations in Malibu and Brentwood, in west Los Angeles. Their clients range from children and adults just starting out in walk-trot all the way through winning at indoors and national championships. “Coachella is very exhibitor-friendly and a very nice place to show,” Traci said. “For us it’s only two hours away, so we feel very spoiled to have it so close.”

As a 10-year veteran, Traci is a qualified guide to the Coachella Valley, which is home to major music festivals like Coachella, Stagecoach, and Desert Trip, bringing over 70,000 visitors each week to Empire Polo Club in Indio. “During the winter months polo is huge,” said Traci, “and you can watch games at Empire every Sunday, if you’re not showing! While you’re at it, get a bite to eat or a beverage at the Tack Room Tavern.”

Desert beauty
Photo courtesy of the Palm Springs Bureau of Tourism

But Traci’s destination list starts with the show itself. “My favorite place for lunch is the VIP at the horse show, because I never get to leave!” she said with a laugh. “The VIP is amazing. But if I have a day off, I like Old Town Coffee Company in Old Town La Quinta, which is great. They have the best homemade muffins. They’re good for coffee, muffins, salads and sandwiches.”

The drive to the La Quinta Resort — the perfect place for a vacation.
Photo courtesy of La Quinta Resort

Less than a 20-minute drive west from Thermal, La Quinta is also home to La Quinta Resort & Club, with restaurants like Traci’s Mexican go-to, Adobe Grill. “I always tell people to stay at La Quinta Resort, because it’s super convenient to the horse show especially. They have great restaurants there, and it’s kind of central to everything — other restaurants and shopping as well. All of our clients love staying at La Quinta.”

La Quinta Resort fountain flowers and garden area at La Quinta Resort
Photo courtesy of La Quinta Resort

And why not? La Quinta Resort has been popular since its creation in the 1920s as a hacienda-style getaway. After a multi-million dollar restoration and enhancements, the resort combines the old-time look and feel of the desert with modern amenities. Enjoy views of the Santa Rosa Mountains beside any one of 41 pools, or explore the 45-acre property with championship golf courses, a premier spa, seven top restaurants, tennis courts and more.

Ready to get more bang for your buck? “Shopping is fun at the huge outlet mall at Cabazon,” Traci said. “It’s one of the biggest outlet malls — you could be there for days and never see everything. That’s a fun adventure, about 40 minutes away from the horse show.” Cabazon is home to both the Desert Hills Premium Outlets, featuring stores like Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, Polo Ralph Lauren Factory Store and Prada, as well as the Cabazon Outlets, with outlets for Puma, Under Armour, Guess, Adidas and more.

Palm trees and snowcapped mountains.
Photo courtesy of the Palm Springs Bureau of Tourism

“Then there’s El Paseo in Palm Desert, a walking street with great boutiques and a few department stores,” Traci added. El Paseo is a mile-long shopping district boasting over 300 shops, restaurants, art galleries and more. Plus, if you happen to be in town, say, for the $1 Million Grand Prix, you won’t want to miss Fashion Week El Paseo at The Gardens on El Paseo. Top designers from around the country bring their cutting-edge glamour to the largest fashion show on the West Coast, complete with trunk shows.

The HITS Desert Circuit features a wonderful atmosphere for riders, trainers, horses and spectators.
Photo courtesy of Traci Brooks

When it comes to attractions, Palm Springs can’t be oversold. “The Aerial Tramway is amazing,” said Traci. As the world’s largest rotating tramcars, the 10-minute, 2.5-mile upward journey covers 6,000 feet in elevation while enjoying 360-degree views of Chino Canyon. The Mt. San Jacinto State Park welcomes visitors at the top with two restaurants, observation decks, a natural history museum, documentary theaters, gift shops and over 50 miles of hiking trails. “It can be 100 degrees at normal ground, and you go to the top of the mountain and there’s snow, so that’s really cool.”

Sun on the Chino Canyon
Photo courtesy of the Palm Springs Bureau of Tourism

Other attractions Traci recommends include The Living Desert, where guests can enjoy exhibits of desert plants and animals ranging from local wildlife to endangered African animals, and the Palm Springs Air Museum, home to one of the largest collections of flyable WWII aircraft as well as exhibits from the Korea and Vietnam Wars. “Also, just Palm Springs in general, like the shops in downtown Palm Springs, where there’s a lot of post-modern architecture. Some of the old hotels in Palm Springs, just to go see them sort of takes you back to the ’50s and it’s very ‘rat pack,’ that’s fun, too.”

The gorgeous mountains make a perfect backdrop for a horse show.
Photo courtesy of Traci Brooks

If it’s throwback you’re looking for, be sure to check out Cunard’s Sandbar Restaurant in La Quinta or The Nest in nearby Indian Wells, both featuring live music. “They’re both really retro,” Traci said. “You see young people and really old people dancing and listening to music, and it’s a scene that’s really fun.” Speaking of retro, Traci didn’t need to think twice about her favorite cocktail destination. “Cactus Jack’s Bar and Grill in Indio — the best! They make the best drinks. They make them kind of old school and strong. The bar area at Cactus Jack’s hasn’t been remodeled in probably 40 years, so it’s very retro, I’d say, and very fun.”

For dinner, Traci loves the casual fine dining at Cork & Fork in La Quinta, where small plates and affordable wines fuel their “Mix, Match, Mingle & Enjoy” motto. “I also like Okura Robata Grill, which is Japanese and sushi, as well as La Quinta Cliffhouse. LG’s is a great steakhouse, and Cactus Jack’s has great prime rib in a more casual setting.”

The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
Photo courtesy of the Palm Springs Bureau of Tourism

But when attending the Desert Series, be sure to save room for dessert. “You have to have a date shake while you’re here, that’s another thing,” Traci added firmly. “That’s a Desert thing. You have to have a date shake from either Shields Date Garden or Hadley Fruit Orchards. Those are fun things that are specific to the Desert.”

Enjoy the warmth of the sun at HITS Desert Horse Park with your date shake in hand. “The facility is amazing, and they make improvements to it every year. I love that they keep improving it with everything from footing to landscaping to air conditioning the VIP. There’s always somewhere to teach a lesson and ride, which is great, and the staff is super accommodating, always. That’s why we love it, and our clients and horses love it.”

 

 

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Tagged under: britney grover, california, carlton brooks, coachella, indio, la quinta, thermal, traci brooks

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A column from Liz Halliday-Sharp herself The spor A column from Liz Halliday-Sharp herself 
The sport of eventing is a demanding and mentally challenging discipline that requires a combination of physical and mental fortitude from both the rider and horse. While having a coach can be incredibly beneficial, self-coaching can also play a crucial role in a rider’s success.

I think that given the opportunity, most riders would like to be coached every day. The reality of life in the horse world, however, is that the majority of us need to absorb as much from the lessons we have on a limited basis and then practice those skills at home to improve.

When I am riding, I try to have a plan for the horses each day and focus on what I’m looking to achieve. It’s important to be aware of the steady improvements rather than trying to solve everything all at once. This is especially important when teaching horses new movements or exercises that they might struggle with, and we need to give them time to learn and understand what we are asking for.

I have a couple of quotes that I use regularly when I’m teaching, and these are mottos that I hold myself to in my daily work as well.

The first is, “If you do what you have always done, you will get what you have always gotten.” This is a quote that was said to me many years ago when I was still motor racing and I keep it in the back of my mind each day. It’s easy to get stuck doing the same thing every day with your horse and bad habits are hard to break, from both riders and horses!

This leads me to my next quote, which is, “If what you are doing isn’t working, try something else.” It really is as simple as that! Many riders I see keep asking a horse to do something the same way over and over with an ongoing negative response and they wonder why things don’t get better. In these circumstances, I recommend that the rider change something, even if it’s wrong.

Read the full article by clicking the link in our bio! Don’t forget to keep your eye out for our April subscription!
📸Photo by Alex Banks Photography
The✨April issue✨ of Sidelines Magazine is here The✨April issue✨ of Sidelines Magazine is here and we are so excited to feature three-day eventer Liz Halliday on the cover! Big thanks to photographer Melissa Fuller for the beautiful photo of Liz and Cooley Nutcracker- Liz Halliday-Sharp - HS Eventing. Liz and her horses have taken the eventing world by storm - and find out how Liz is at the top of the sport as a female eventer! As the horse world gears up for the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event 2023, it's the perfect time to enjoy our eventing issue!! We also feature eventer and woman entrepreneur Frankie Thieriot Stutes, who is not only an eventer, but also runs Athletux and FRANKIE CAMERON handbags and accessories. And don't miss our eventing story on Robert "Bobby" Costello, who will be leading the US Eventing team to the 2024 Paris Olympics- and US Equestrian has named Bobby the eventing technical advisor/chef d'equipe!! Liz, Frankie and Bobby all have GREAT stories - don't miss any of them and don't forget to get your tickets for the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day event! We are also excited to introduce you to hunter-jumper rider Casey Lorusso Smith, who is not only a talented rider but also a psychotherapist and incorporates horses into her career. If you are up for adventure, then read the story on dressage rider Priscilla Baldwin who certainly doesn't let any grass grow under her feet! We also head to the west coast to catch up with hunter-jumper trainer Jim Hagman of Elvenstar Farm, we feature beautiful art by equestrian artist Tammy Tappan, and we get to know Miranda Jones and her family. Miranda is not only an attorney who spends a lot of time in the courthouse, but she's a rider and spends lots of time riding, and is joined by her daughters also! We are excited to feature Stephanie Lightner in our Unbridled column, and don't miss our columnists George Williams, Robert R.L. Jacobs and Margie Sugarman! It's a great issue - and you can read it online, but don't forget to go to the website and order a subscription and get every issue delivered to your mailbox!! Enjoy this issue and enjoy the ride: Link in bio!!
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Marie Meyers has been around the world because of Marie Meyers has been around the world because of dressage, but it’s her farm in Moorpark, California, that has captured her heart. The farm and the business that thrives there represent Marie’s lifelong journey—a journey made up of good friends, spectacular horses and relationships made to last.

Marie was raised in Southern California, and spent her childhood playing just about every sport under the sun, but she didn’t discover riding until she was 14 years old. “I loved animals so much, so I started taking lessons. I did jumping at first, but I was very bad at that, for sure!” Marie laughed.

After some time, Marie moved on to take lessons at Foxfield Riding Academy and began riding dressage. “I fell into dressage by accident,” Marie said, “At the beginning, I thought it was extremely boring, but then I got hooked. By the time I graduated from high school, I had plans to travel to England to work for Franz Rochowansky, a former head of the Spanish Riding School.”

In 1988, Marie’s hard work paid off, and the pair was selected as alternates for the 1988 Summer Olympic Games. “They didn’t take the alternates that year, so we didn’t go to Seoul, but the experience, the training and the European Tour afterwards set me up for the 1990 World Equestrian Games in Stockholm, Sweden,” Marie said.

In addition to having success representing her country, Marie was busy with her life—marriage, a business, teaching lessons and clinics. 

Learn more about Marie in this month's edition of Sidelines Magazine. Click the link in our bio for more 🦄

📸Photos by Lindsey Long Equine Photography, www.lindseylong.com

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