Unequivocally Equine: Horse show gears up for its fifth year
Sun, Jun 08 2008
BY CYMBRE FOSTER

MAPLE CITY -- Betsy Van Dyke travels hundreds of miles a year to attend horse shows around the country, but her favorite, by far, is right here in northern Michigan.
Van Dyke is referring to Horse Shows by the Bay, a three-week equestrian festival that features riders from around the country and Europe who represent the crème de la crème of the equestrian world.
The fifth annual event will return to the region July 16-Aug. 3, this year bringing about 3,000 riders, their families and crew to compete in the Olympic English riding disciplines of jumping and dressage.
"I've competed there every year they've held it," said Van Dyke, who is based out of Cold Spring Farm in Maple City. "But even if I didn't live here I would go anyway. It's a really great show and they have a very high-class competition with good judges and good incentives in the way of awards and prizes," added Van Dyke, who will compete in dressage riding.
Dressage is sometimes referred to as equine ballet in which the horse is maneuvered in response to body signals by the rider. Van Dyke also will be doing dressage demonstrations during the hunter jumper show.
This year, the show's total prize money will surpass $360,000 and will be divided among three Grand Prix events, as well as other competitions throughout the festival.
Organizers said this year's show, which will be held at the 80-acre Flintfields Horse Park in Williamsburg, is bigger and better than ever. There is more prize money, more community involvement and a new amphitheater-style competition ring, said Alexandra Rheinheimer, Horse Shows by the Bay president.
The public is encouraged to attend and experience the excitement of the equestrian competition each of the three weekends, as well as during the entire final week.
"We really want people to come out and see the very best in the sport. This show attracts the best in the nation and some of the riders also compete internationally," said Rheinheimer.
"The whole sport is unique because there is no given moment that is the same because you're working with an animal. It's also more than just technique; seeing a rider communicate with a 1,500-pound animal is remarkable and amazing to watch," she said.
"It's really just an incredible facility and incredible show," echoed Van Dyke. "It's the best show we go to."
The new state-of-the art Team Elmer's Grand Prix Ring opens this year and features seating for 4,000 and a competition ring that is the largest of its kind in the state.
This year, local riders also will be able to get involved in the fun during the new Local Rider Competition day that will be held on July 29.
"This is geared toward those who live within 150 miles and have not competed at an upper level circuit in the last three years," said Rheinheimer.
Kids under 18 are invited to the annual kids day program on July 19, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is free and they can enjoy activities like horseless jumping, barn tours, face painting and dog agility and demonstrations, including a Junior/Amateur Show Jumping Prix.
"We have kids day every year, but each year we ramp it up," said Rheinheimer.
One of the events organizers will be promoting during that week is a new exhibition and charity fundraiser polo match between University of Michigan and Michigan State University, the area's first polo match.
Spectators also will have a chance to see Olympic silver medalist Lisa Jacquins ride, as well as Shane Sweetnum from Ireland.
Van Dyke believes visitors will not be disappointed.
"This show is really high caliber," she said. "People are driving here from all over the country to attend and if you have any interest at all in horses it would be worth your while to come," she added. "Just seeing the facility is amazing, there are a lot of horses in one place."
Daily general admission is $5 per person and tickets can be bought at the gate. Children under 5 are free. For more information about the show, visit www.horseshowsbythebay.com or by calling 267-3700.

Midwest Farm and Ranch - June 2008

The Ticker - May 5, 2008
Horse Play
This year’s festival expected to bring additional $10M into economy

If Saturday’s Kentucky Derby whet your appetite for horse competition, plan on being in town in mid-July. The 5th annual Horse Shows by the Bay starts July 16 and runs through August 3 at the 80-acre Flintfields Horse Park in Williamsburg.

This year, the three-week long equestrian event is expected to attract 1,500 horses and riders to compete in Olympic English riding disciplines of jumping and dressage. In just five years, the number of participants has increased six-fold.

“We attribute this rapid growth to a number of things, like the fact that Traverse City continues to be unique and fun for our guests,” said event co-founder and President Alex Rheinheimer. “However, the biggest reason for the increased attendance is the fact that we now have a permanent Horse Park in which to host the event.”

The Horse Show is the festival locals might not have noticed, but retailers and restaurant owners have grown to love.

The ’07 event drew some 6,000 visitors to the area. Horse Shows by the Bay’s own numbers estimate that each visitor spends an average of $200 per day. By that measurement, the event to date has generated more than $20 million in local tourism revenue, Rheinheimer said. Early estimates suggest that this year’s event will bring an additional $10 million to the local economy, she added.

Chris Gorence, general area manager of the Grand Beach and Sugar Beach on East Bay, host hotels for the event, said some 50 rooms have been dedicated to festival attendees and only a few are still available.

“Bookings are way ahead” of previous years, Gorence said, with many of those stays being a week or more. He added that some people have booked condominium units at the resorts for two- to three-week stays. “[The event] has had a really positive impact on this end of town.”

New this year is Team Elmer’s Grand Prix Ring, a state-of-the-art, amphitheatre-style competition ring. Also new is a Local Rider Competition Day, where riders and experts from the Grand Traverse region will participate in the event.

2008 Phelps Media Group Press Coverage

Horse Shows by the Bay to Host Full Schedule of Social Events
Release Date: 2008-06-10

2008 Horse Shows by the Bay Series Features Variety of Vendors
Release Date: 2008-06-02

Jumper Riders Find Great Prize Money and Classes at Horse Shows by the Bay
Release Date: 2008-05-19

*ALERT!* Hotel Rooms and Stalls Selling Fast at Horse Shows by the Bay
Release Date: 2008-05-15

Hunters Ride for Points and Prize Money During WCHR Week at Horse Shows by the Bay
Release Date: 2008-05-08

Horse Shows by the Bay Announces New Competition Arena for 2008 Series
Release Date: 2008-04-29

2008 Zada Enterprises, LLC Dressage by the Bay Series I&II Fast Facts
Release Date: 2008-04-17

2008 Horse Shows by the Bay Series Offers Activities for Riders and Families
Release Date: 2008-04-04

2008 HORSE SHOWS BY THE BAY FAST FACTS
Release Date: 2008-03-05

Horse Shows by the Bay Prize List Now Available Online
Release Date: 2008-02-25

Traverse City’s The Record Eagle Teams Up With Horse Shows by the Bay To Help Promote Event And Horse Show Lifestyle
Release Date: 2008-02-11

Grand Traverse Resort & Spa Selected As Official Horse Shows by the Bay Host Hotel
Client: Horse Sports by the Bay, Inc.
Release Date: 2008-02-07

Horse Shows by the Bay’s Dean and Alexandra Rheinheimer receive 2007 Community Champions Award from the Traverse City Visitor and Convention Bureau
Release Date: 2007-12-05

Horse show kicks up rave reviews
Competition shows off its new venue
By Bill O'Brien

Record-Eagle/Jan-Michael Stump

The fourth annual competition, which wrapped up last weekend, attracted a record number of entries and rave reviews for its new riding and show facility north of M-72, event co-founder Alexandra Rheinheimer said. Almost 1,200 horses were entered in various hunter, jumper and dressage competitions, reflecting a 30 percent increase per week compared to the 2006 event.

Competitors traveled from throughout the country, Rheinheimer said, with entries coming from Texas, Florida, Pennsylvania and throughout the state and Midwest. Riders competed for $350,000 in prize money.

"We were very excited,” Rheinheimer said. "Many of the barns have talked about returning and are already planning for next year.”

Using economic models from the equestrian circuit based on the number of entries and the length of the event, Rheinheimer estimated the show generated approximately $7.7 million in economic activity in the region. That doesn't include the event's $2 million operating budget, or the $1.5 million spent on the new horse park along Bates Road known as Flintfields, named after show benefactor and sport enthusiast Karin (Walstrom) Flint of Harbor Springs and Florida.

Area hotel operators said they benefited from horse show guests filling up their weekdays during the three-week event.

Jeff Weaner, owner of the Traverse Bay Inn and Lodge, said of the four years he's sponsored the Horse Shows by the Bay, this year brought the most guests into his hotels. The Traverse Bay Inn and Lodge's two locations have a combined 81 rooms, and Weaner said a majority of those held horse show participants and staff.

"We had a lot of people clamoring for rooms,” Weaner said. "I've already booked quite a bit of rooms for next year.”

At the Super 8 Motel, manager Leanne Sinkel said guests affiliated with the horse show occupied 30 percent of her rooms.

She added that the extended stays of a week to the entire month for horse show staff and guests at hotel were a bonus.

"It's nice to have a lot of long-term stays,” Sinkel said.

Acme officials said they've received positive feedback from the community about the event, and are glad the event set up shop in the township. The first three years of the show were staged at a farm south of Traverse City.

"I think people in Acme certainly felt the (economic) impact of the event,” said former township Supervisor Bill Kurtz before his resignation on Friday. "I think the region did as well.”

Kurtz described the show as "a class act” and expects its popularity to expand in the future.

"I anticipate this is just the beginning of something that's going to continue to grow and gain in state and national exposure,” he said.

Rheinheimer said plans already are being made for next year's show, tentatively scheduled July 16-Aug. 3. Organizers will make some minor changes to better handle the parking and spectators, and may add another competition arena.

Staff writer Kevin Wright contributed to this report

On the Web at www.horsesportsbythebay.com

HORSESHOWS BY THE BAY HOSTS ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL EVENT FOR THE EQUESTRIAN AID FOUNDATION

Traverse City, MI – July 24, 2007 – The Equestrian Aid Foundation (EAF) is thrilled to report the success of its latest fundraiser, Horse Shows by the Bay and the Equestrian Aid Foundation’s Gembilee - held on Sunday, July 22nd in Traverse City, Michigan. Thanks to the generosity of the event’s sponsors, Tom Wright of Uphill Farm Investments, the Ziegler Family of Artisan Farms, Horse Shows by the Bay, EverAfter Diamonds, Trattoria Stella, and its participants, over $25,000 was raised to help equestrians in need.

The Gembilee featured a raffle for the official Equestrian Aid Foundation Gem Car, won by Laurie Gorton and her mother, who are clients of Lousie Serio. A diamond drop contest was won by Ann Thornbury of Goshen, Ohio. And a live auction - the highlight of the evening - featured training sessions from hunter rider, Louise Serio, trainer, Andre Dignelli, jumper rider, Kent Farrington and dressage gold medalist Robert Dover.

Trattoria Stella, in the Village at Grand Traverse Commons, is the neighborhood restaurant and bar who graciously hosted the event. With strong roots in fine traditional food, wine and service. The team of professionals that has come together over this restaurant is committed to delivering you a unique experience on every visit, no matter how many times we see you. More importantly, while each experience will be unique, you will always feel at home.

Proceeds go to the EAF, a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization that financially assists members of the equestrian industry who are suffering from life threatening illnesses or catastrophic industries. For more information on the biggest part of the year or to purchase tickets online, please visit www.equestrianaidfoundation.org.

MEDIA CONTACT: Alison La Ferlita, Equestrian Aid Foundation - (800) 792-6068, Alison@equestrianaidfoundation.org

Wellington, FL – March 29, 2007 – Horse Sports by the Bay, Inc. is known for their production of Northern Michigan’s Horse Shows by the Bay and Dressage by the Bay Series. The five show, three-week equestrian festival is held in the beautiful resort area of Traverse City, MI, and will run from July 18 through August 5. Although Horse Shows by the Bay is a new addition to the summer circuit, generous contributions from supporters and sponsors have added to the early success of the festival.

Grand Prix Level sponsors are D-BRAIDER and Karin Flint, Janet Read and Positive Step Farm.

Karin Flint is an avid horse show enthusiast and a Harbor Springs, MI, native. She currently owns four horses that are under the tutelage of Olympic veteran Lisa Jacquin. In addition, she has extensive horse show management experience, as she organized the Bloomfield Open Hunt’s Detroit-Motor City Horse Shows. Flint also invented the D-BRAIDER, a device used to take out horses’ braids.

Janet Read is another equine enthusiast with ties to the Traverse City, MI region—as a child growing up she vacationed at her family’s lakeside Old Mission Peninsula Cottage annually. As such, Read decided to honor her roots and family history by naming one of the premier arenas at the new horse park. The Polk Family Main Hunter Ring will feature the rated hunters and the evening hunter classics. Read has horses in training with Tim and Kelly Goguen of Bogg’s Hill Farm in Wellington, FL. Most recently, her talented five-year-old gelding Safari won the prestigious AHJF Hunter Spectacular at the Winter Equestrian Festival under the guidance of Tim.

Positive Step Farm is a private 46 acre training facility located northwest of Detroit, MI, which is owned and managed by Patrice Schreiber and her husband, Brian Moore. The farm specializes in importing Irish Sport Horses from the Loughnatousa line out of County Waterford, Ireland. Schreiber is an amateur equestrian with extensive experience organizing and sponsoring various dressage, eventing and show jumping competitions in Michigan.

Platinum sponsors include PhelpsSports.com and Team Elmer’s.

PhelpsSports.com is an innovative subscription equestrian sports web site that offers equestrians and fans of a single web address for breaking news of the Hunter, Jumper, Dressage, Eventing and other High Performance disciplines. It features up-to-the-minute audio reports and unique features from around the globe, photos and reporting from some of the finest equestrian journalists in the world.

Team Elmer’s, or Elmer’s Crane & Dozer, Inc., is the largest and most respected construction engineering company in northern Michigan. In business since 1956, Elmer's has grown to include surveying, engineering, earth moving and site preparation, underground services, aggregate production, crane/rigging, concrete, asphalt (commercial & residential), milling, restoration, snowplowing and more. They assisted management in the development of the new Horse Park site plans and represented the company at all the township meetings this past fall. Team Elmer’s is currently on-site preparing the ground for this year’s festival.

Gold sponsors include Kodiak Equipment Company, Lisa A.H. Cudahy, Meijer, Schreiber Corporation and Zada Enterprises, LLC.

Kodiak Equipment Company is an all service golf car and sports utility equipment company based out of Williamsburg, MI. Kodiak Equipment Company supplies Horse Sports by the Bay with golf cars during their three week event. In addition they service both the Lamplight and Littlewood Horse Shows during their respective circuits. Last season the company sponsored a JEEP styled golf car that was used in a raffle for the CANTER Fundraiser & Benefit at Horse Shows by the Bay, Series II.

Lisa A.H. Cudahy of Cedarburg, WI, is the sponsor of this year’s $10,000 NAL/WIHS Adult Hunter Classic on July 21, 2007. Cudahy is an amateur competitor who has horses in training with Cookie Beck. She is also an avid sponsor of various equestrian events, including the Legacy Cup and the Professional Hunter Finals for the American Hunter-Jumper Foundation.

Meijer is a one-stop shopping supercenter that features over 40 departments with more than 170 stores through the Midwest region. Corporate headquarters are in Grand Rapids, MI, and this year, Meijer is the sponsor of the CANTER (Communication Alliance to Network Thoroughbred Ex-Racehorses) benefit that will be held on August 4, 2007 at Horse Shows by the Bay, Series III. The Meijer family enjoys horses and competes annually on the Michigan Horse Show Circuit.

The Schreiber Corporation, based out of Detroit, MI, and Hamilton, Ontario-Canada, specializes in Industrial & Commercial Built-Up Roofing, Modified Bitumen, Single Ply and Metal Standing Seam Roofing Systems. The company purchases from all major manufacturers such as Honeywell, Inc., GAF Building Materials, John Mansville, Koppers Industries, Siplast and others. More than 80 percent of their business is with repeat customers such as Ford Motor Company, General Motors Corporation and DaimlerChrysler Corporation.

Zada Enterprises, LLC, based in Grosse Pointe, MI, is a family company operated by Joe Zada, an amateur equestrian who competes and trains in dressage, hunters and jumpers. Zada Enterprises is an active sponsor of the dressage community and is the title sponsor and of the Dressage by the Bay shows.

Silver sponsors include Boggs Hill Farm--Kelly and Tim Goguen; and Uphill Farm Investments--Tom Wright.

Bronze sponsors include Ariat International, Inc.; Ann K. Hubbard Tack Shop; English Riding Supply; Equisports, Inc.; Equisport Insurance Agency, the Franciso Group; Hampton Green Farm; Hillside Farm & Friends; Hunterpointe Farm and Brian Shook; Luitpold Pharmaceuticals and Adequan; Mr. and Mrs. Forrest Shook; and Trattoria Stella.

Charter sponsors include Bowers Harbor Vineyards; Personalized Products; Stikky Likky Horse Treats; and Walstrom Marine.

Contributing sponsors are Grand Traverse Resort and Spa; Parkshore Resort; Sugar Beach & Grand Beach Resorts; Traverse Bay Inn & Lodge; Traverse Victorian Inn; and Turtle Creek Casino.

Other sponsors include Eastfield Laundry; the Hylant Group; Auntie Ann’s Horse Cookies; the Horse Village; R. Bruce Duchossois; and Sport Horse Saddlery.

MEDIA CONTACT: Chrissy Lane of Phelps Media Group, Inc. at (561) 753-3389 or at pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com

02/13/2007
Acme ropes in horse show
By Bill O'Brien
bobrien@record-eagle.com

ACME — Move over movies and cherries. A horse show is poised to gallop into the ranks of northern Michigan's signature summer events. Horse Shows by the Bay Inc. is ready to break ground on a riding and jumping facility along M-72 in Acme and welcome a record number of entries for its three-week event starting in mid-July.

Its expansion and move to a permanent home excites local tourism officials, who said it has the potential to become another major commerce engine for the Grand Traverse area, along with the National Cherry Festival and Traverse City Film Festival.
"We really recognize that it's a great opportunity for our community,” said Brad Van Dommelen, president of the Traverse City Convention and Visitors Bureau. "These people come in and they spend a lot of money here. They like to shop, go out to dinner ... to do all of the things that we want people to do here.”

Event co-founder Alexandra Rheinheimer said this year's event is expected to draw about 750 horses shown by owners from throughout the country. The event tripled in size from its first year, when it drew around 250 horses to a farm near Wuerfel Park south of Traverse City that was leased for its first three years. Last summer's event drew close to 550 entries and cemented its popularity on the national equestrian circuit, she said. "We pulled in even more of the elite competitors,” Rheinheimer said. "I think we really solidified that we were going to be a permanent part of the calendar.”

Rheinheimer and her husband, Dean, used to manage horse shows for other sponsors before deciding to launch their own event. The popularity of Horse Shows by the Bay led them to seek a permanent location and to an Acme Township farm. The 80-plus-acre site west of Bates Road will have room for four performing arenas, spectator areas, nine different riding surfaces and up to 1,000 horse stalls.

Along with more competitors, Rheinheimer hopes the new location draws more public interest. "The goal with the new facility is to cater more to spectators,” she said. Acme officials expect the show, scheduled in three series from July 18 to Aug. 5, will generate plenty of activity. "We're expecting it to be a pretty significant local boost,” Township Manager Sharon Corpe said.

Copyright 1998-2005 Traverse City Record-Eagle

TRAVERSE CITY, MICHIGAN’S 2007 HORSE SHOWS BY THE BAY SERIES AWARDED PRESTIGIOUS WCHR RECOGNITION

Traverse City, Michigan: Horse Sports by the Bay, Inc. is proud to announce that for 2007 the second week of it’s three part United States Equestrian Federation recognized hunter/jumper series titled “Horse Shows by the Bay” has just been awarded the prestigious World Championship Hunter Rider Program (WCHR) sanctioning by the American Hunter-Jumper Foundation (AHJF). AHJF members were mailed a ballot that asked them to select shows that meet the highest of standards such as footing, scheduling, awards presentations and ceremonies, caliber of judges, stabling, hospitality, and responsiveness to exhibitor feedback. Out of a possible 25 + “AA” rated events held in the Mid-West Region, Horse Shows by the Bay Series II, July 25 – 29, 2007, was one of six shows chosen and is the only one of its kind in Michigan.

“We are truly flattered,” remarked Horse Sports by the Bay, Inc co-founder, Alexandra Rheinheimer, “and we will do everything in our power to meet if not exceed the list of criteria set forth by AHJF.” Horse Sports by the Bay, Inc. has already decided to add a $10,000 Hunter Classic to coincide with Series II as a way of demonstrating their desire to showcase and promote the elite show hunter to the community.

AHJF members that win during Series II will earn points that count towards both WCHR Regional and National Level Awards. “In our industry winning a World year end title is like winning the super bowl,” explained Rheinheimer.

Last season horse show competitors enjoyed daily exhibitor socials, weekly charity fundraisers, quality footing, competitive prize money, and a schedule that allowed them the evening free to enjoy all of the resort amenities Traverse City, Michigan has to offer. Famous show hunters such as Boulevard Deir, Rio Renoir, Fellini, Rockette, My Little Dickens, Far From Home, Caped Crusader, Lance, Odette, Eye Remember Rio, Harmony Bay, and Cologne among others graced the show grounds winning champion rosettes and Grand Hunter Titles. Janet Read, recipient of the 2006 WCHR Alabama Clay Conformation Hunter Award, presented to the owner of the 2006 WCHR Grand Conformation Hunter Champion, remarked that she thoroughly enjoyed watching her prized Boulevard Deir perform in the Main Hunter Ring and that the presentation of the fences and trophies surpassed other venues they had seen this season. Management expects an expanded list of esteemed horses and riders to show next summer with many new barns already requesting information on the events and area.

Horse Shows by the Bay Series I, II, and III runs from July 18 – August 5, 2007 and is sanctioned by the United States Equestrian Federation, which is the National Governing Body for Equestrian Sport. The series offers over $340,000 in total prize money featuring a weekly Show Jumping Grand Prix, Welcome Prix, Show Jumping Hall of Fame Junior-Amateur/Owner Prix, Classics for Adult and Children Jumpers, Young Jumper Qualifiers, and a whole host of special hunter classics, equitation and non-rated hunter/jumper events. Special Charity Events and a comprehensive Kid’s Day are also scheduled. For more information on the World Champion Hunter Rider Program please visit www.ahjf.org and on the horse show please see www.horseshowsbythebay.com or call 561-723-6287.

Horse Sports By the Bay, Inc. Press Release Archive