Horse Shows by the Bay gets bigger every season

Named one of the 40 under 40 business leaders this year by Traverse City Business News magazine, Alexandra Rheinheimer and her husband Dean are energizing the northwest Michigan economy and landscape as founders and producers of the five-week Horse Shows by the Bay Equestrian Festival, which runs though Sept. 12 at their Flintfields Horse Park compound in Williamsburg.

Now in its sixth year, the event adds millions to the Traverse City area tourism coffers -- $40 million since the event started in 2004, according to the Rheinheimers -- not to mention a brand-new crowd: the horsey set from all over the world.

Horse Shows by the Bay Equestrian Festival features a series of prestigious week-long summer competitions. Thousands of the nation's best horses and riders compete in International Olympic disciplines of show jumping and dressage, along with national and locally ranked events of show jumping, dressage, equitation and hunters. Each competition is sanctioned by the United States Equestrian Federation, plus carries affiliation with national and regional equestrian organizations. Horses and riders win points toward year-end awards and titles, plus vie for a share of the $400,000 prize money that is awarded each season.

The general public can check out the competitions on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for $5 per day per person (days marked with a star are $10), which includes on-site parking and access to all five competition rings, vendors and concession area.  Wear your comfiest shoes, a hat, sunscreen and bring an umbrella for a bleachers seat.

On July 31 at 5 p.m., don't miss the $30,000 Show Jumping Grand Prix -- competitors make up to 16 jumps and reach heights of more than five feet. See the entire schedule here.

Writer: Patty LaNoue Stearns
Sources: Horse Shows by the Bay, Traverse City Business News