High Flying Horses/Polo Power

July 13, 2008

If you see large numbers of people milling around Traverse City in knee-high boots and helmets that look like they were designed for fox hunting, have no fear -- they’re simply equestrians participating in the fifth annual Horse Shows by the Bay.
The well-heeled riders return to the Grand Traverse region this July 16 through August 3, bringing thousands of equestrian competitors and visitors to the area. The 2008 event, held at the 80-acre Flintfields Horse Park in Williamsburg, will feature more prize money, more community involvement, and a new amphitheatre-style competition ring.
The three-week event attracts some 3,000 riders and their families and crew to the region each summer for competitions in the Olympic English riding disciplines of jumping and dressage. The event is sanctioned by the United States Equestrian Federation and is recognized worldwide as an emerging horse festival.
The public is invited to attend and experience the grace and excitement of equestrian competition each of the three weekends, as well as during the entire final week. Admission is $5 per person.

ECONOMIC ENGINE
Horse Shows by the Bay generates millions for the area’s tourism economy. Promoters state that each visitor spends an average of $200 per day during their stay, adding up to an annual impact in excess of $7 million. The typical Horse Show participant has a net worth of more than $1 million, with 95 percent of participants visiting from outside the Grand Traverse region.
Spurring them on is this year’s total prize money surpassing $350,000, to be divided among three Grand Prix events and several other competitions.
New this year will be the opening of the Team Elmer’s Grand Prix Ring, a state-of-the-art, amphitheatre-style competition ring. Featuring seating for up to 4,000, the ring is approximately 280’ x 380’ in size, making it the largest of its kind in the state. It will serve as the site for the Grand Prix competitions and other special high performance competitions.
“The construction and debut of this new ring is a big step for the show,” says Alexandra Rheinheimer, the shows’ president. “It will allow us to conduct larger events with bigger purses and eventually use the space for non-horse events as well.”

LOCAL RIDERS
Also new this year is Local Rider Competition Day, scheduled for Tuesday, July 29 from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Local riders from around the Grand Traverse region will be invited to compete in events, getting some of the area’s best young talent exposed to international competition, many for the first time.
Saturday, July 19 will be Kids Day at the Horse Shows, when all visitors under age 18 are admitted free and can enjoy such activities as horseless jumping, barn tours, face painting, dog agility, and demonstrations. Kids Day activities will be held 10 a.m.-3 p.m. and serves as a fundraiser for Michigan 4H.
This year’s sponsors include dozens of businesses, including Grand Traverse Resort & Spa (Official Hotel), Bowers Harbor Vineyards (Official Winery), Team Elmer’s, Meijer, Mabel’s, Bowers Harbor Inn, Red Hare Tack & Togs, Bad Pony Designs, Garden Goods, Advantage Electric, Peaceful Valley Irrigation, Outback Steakhouse of Traverse City, and many more.

For additional horse show information call 231.267.3700 or visit www.horseshowsbythebay.com.

Polo Power

The region’s first ever polo match is coming to Traverse City, with an exhibition between the University of Michigan and Michigan State University co-ed polo teams on Friday, August 1 at 6 p.m. The event will raise funds for both teams.
Polo, the world’s oldest team sport, was originally used for training cavalry more than 2,000 years ago. The first recorded polo tournament was played in 600 B.C. between the Turkomans and the Persians. Today, polo is an international sport played in more than 60 countries across the world. There are more than 250 active polo clubs in the United States Polo Association and more than 50 million people worldwide enjoy the sport each year.
“This event is going to be a spectacle in every sense,” said Horse Shows President Alexandra Rheinheimer. “We’re delighted to be working with both Michigan State and Michigan to build an event that will include sporting competition, high fashion, the rivalry of Michigan and Michigan State, and more. We’re looking forward to a fantastic evening.”

The polo match is open to the public and tickets can be purchased at the door for $5. The event will be held in the new Team Elmers competition ring at Flintfields Horse Park on Bates Road in Williamsburg.