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

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.

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.

Quality Vendors to Sponsor Championships and Series Awards at Horse Shows by the Bay

Traverse City, MI - June 20, 2007 - Horse Sports by the Bay is made possible by a number of supportive vendors that help keep the show circuit running smoothly. The three week circuit, held in Traverse City, MI, hosts classes for hunters, jumpers and dressage and runs from July 18 through August 5, 2007. Winners in all three disciplines will receive various awards and prizes donated by vendors at the horse show.

English Riding Supply will sponsor the "Ovation Leading Rider Series Awards," which will award a $500 gift certificate to the leading rider from the Professional, Junior, Amateur Owner, Pony, Children's Hunter, Adult Hunter and Jumper divisions. Recipients will be able to choose from many lines of products such as Pessoa, Veredus and Ovation. In addition, they will award Anky Bridles to the leading Junior/Young, Adult and Open riders from the two Zada Enterprises, LLC, Dressage by the Bay shows. This summer marks the third year that English Riding Supply has sponsored Horse Sports by the Bay.

Personalized Products, Ann K. Hubbard's Tack Shop and Ariat International will each sponsor one week of championship awards during the three-week show. Ever After Diamonds and Bead by Bead, also sponsors, will return to the show grounds again this year to offer jewelry ranging from customized diamond and gold pendants to beaded earrings, bracelets and handmade bags.

Local tack stores The Horse Village and Sporthorse Saddlery have also given their support to Horse Sports by the Bay as award sponsors. These two organizations have been involved since the inception of the show and will be on-site during the third week to cater exclusively to the dressage competitors.

In addition, Vendors Row will have a new aspect by welcoming local craftsmen on-site every weekend, free of charge, to display their wares. The Artisan's Tent will bring together the competitors and the local community of Traverse City. Currently, there are several local painters, cherry growers and a designer fudge shop who have signed on to participate.

Held in Traverse City, MI, a luxury summer resort area, Horse Shows by the Bay and Zada Enterprises, LLC Dressage by the Bay are set against the Cherry Capital of the World, complete with vineyards, beaches, orchards and golf courses.

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

Nation’s Top Riders Hunt for World Champion Hunter Rider Points at Horse Shows by the Bay

Wellington, FL – May 3, 2007 – The second week of competition at Horse Shows by the Bay has been awarded this year the prestigious World Champion Hunter Rider sanctioning by the American Hunter-Jumper Foundation.

The WCHR week will be held in Traverse City, MI, from July 25-29, and is part of a three-week summer equestrian festival located three miles east of the Grand Traverse Bay and Lake Michigan. Traverse City is historically known as the cherry capital of the world, but to equestrians, it’s quickly becoming a must-do on the summer show circuit.

Attaining sanctioning from the AHJF to designate a competition as a World Champion Hunter Rider show is no easy feat, and the organization uses a system based on a clearly defined set of criteria. Members of the AHJF vote via ballots and rank the shows on a variety of aspects and standards.

The following are some aspects that are rated: footing, schooling areas, exhibitor and spectator parking, scheduling for rated hunter divisions, award presentations, ring size, judges and officials, management and staff, stabling, announcing and response to exhibitor feedback.

Many of the country’s best hunter riders will compete during the festival and WCHR week, including Tim Goguen and Safari, owned by Janet Read, winners of the 2007 American Hunter-Jumper Foundation Hunter Spectacular. Goguen will also ride Boulevard Deir, last year’s Horse Shows by the Bay Grand Hunter Champion, among others. Rob Bielefeld will return with his string of champion hunters, along with Cookie Beck with Lisa A.H. Cudahy’s mounts and the Ziegler family horses. Susan Baginski’s Baskin Farm, Ann and Skip Thornbury’s Equisports, Inc., and Jeff and Keeley Gogul’s Flagship Farm will also show.

New names that will appear on the roster include Lousie Serio’s barn Derbydown and Peter Pletcher of Texas. Serio and Pletcher each are two-time winners of the World Champion Hunter Rider Professional Finals and represented the U.S. at this year’s World Cup Team Hunter Challenge in Law Vegas. Wellington residents Ken and Emily Smith will also show with their Ashland Farm.

In addition to the WCHR week, Horse Shows by the Bay offers two more weeks of top-notch competition in a brand new venue. The festival runs from July 18 through August 5, with competition scheduled from Wednesday through Sunday of each week. Horse Sports by the Bay, Inc. produces the series and also offers Zada Enterprises, LLC’s Dressage by the Bay I and II from August 2 through August 5. Traverse City, MI, is famous for its annual cherry production, resort-like atmosphere, and mild summer climate. This year will mark the company’s fourth season of providing first class competition to the Midwest community.

Highlights of the schedule include a $25,000 Grand Prix class every Sunday, Young Jumper Classics, $30,000 in Hunter Classic prize money, $10,000 Show Jumping Hall of Fame Junir/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classics, “AA” rated Hunter Divisions, World Championship Hunter Rider sanctioning, dressage exhibitions, rated dressage competitions, plus charity fundraisers and exhibitor socials.

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

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.

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.

HORSE SPORTS BY THE BAY, INC AWARDS CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT FOR TRAVERSE CITY AREA HORSE PARK TO ELMER’S CRANE AND DOZER

Traverse City, Michigan; January 2007: After careful review of all proposed excavating bids Elmers Crane and Dozer, Inc., also known as “Team Elmers” received the nod from Horse Sports by the Bay, Inc.’s owners Dean and Alexandra Rheinheimer to construct a new permanent equestrian park in Acme Township. “In the end, we felt that Elmers flawless reputation and ability to get the job done in a timely and professional manner sealed the deal,” says Dean Rheinheimer of Horse Sports by the Bay, Inc.,

Team Elmers, established in 1956 by Elmer Schaub, initially offered to the area excavating, earth moving and crane work. With new owners Butch Broad and partner Gary Holcombe the company now offers an expanded list of services including surveying, engineering, earth moving and site preparation, underground services, aggregate production, crane/rigging, concrete, asphalt (commercial & residential), milling, restoration, snowplowing and more. “They have their hands into everything and anything here in Traverse City…there isn’t a day that goes by that you don’t see a shiny blue and silver Elmers truck on the road that’s up to something. Their slogan of ‘one call does it all’ certainly rings true,” states Rheinheimer.

Team Elmers handled the construction of all the show rings at the previous Chum’s Corner show site. Elmers Construction Engineering staff recently assisted management in developing the horse show facility site plan and represented the horse show at all required Acme Township Planning Commission and Town Board meetings.

"Elmers is excited to be working with Horse Sports by the Bay again to create a new equestrian facility in Acme Township. We were lucky to be part of such a unique project for the past three years in Garfield Township and were impressed with the high level of national participation and local interest. The new facility will provide a home for this great event that Traverse City welcomes and looks forward to being part of for many years" says Jason Horton, PE Project Manager for Team Elmers.

Once excavating is finished this spring Team Elmers will also continue to be involved as a Platinum Level horse show sponsor to further demonstrate their support of the project.

Horse Shows by the Bay Series I, II and III and Zada Enterprises, LLC’s Dressage by the Bay Series I and II will operate from July 18 through August 5th this year. All five events are sanctioned by the United States Equestrian Federation which is the National Governing Body for all 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 hunter classes, equitation and non-rated hunter/jumper events. In addition several special hunter classics have been recently added to coincide with Series II’s World Championship Hunter Rider status. Special Charity Events and a comprehensive Kid’s Day are also scheduled. For more information and a list of 2007 sponsors please see www.horseshowsbythebay.com or call 561-723-6287.

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.