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The Other Side of the Fence - Her Baby by the Bay
Bob Goddard for PhelpsSports.com, Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Last year around this time, I received a breathless long distance phone call from my daughter, Jamie. She described a “really cool horse show” she and her husband stumbled across while visiting Traverse City.

“It’s a big one, Dad. It’s called Horse Shows by the Bay.”

“That’s nice, honey,” I told her. Then I half-listened to the details as I went back to reviewing a very important e-mail from one of my many Nigerian business associates. I knew this was impolite, but I figured she probably just found some over-blown Pony Club thing. The girl has been known to exaggerate.

Jamie was thoughtful enough to bring home a program from the show. When I eventually got around to looking at it, I discovered that she was right; Horse Shows by the Bay was a “big one”. It was actually a series of shows held over three extended weekends with big sponsors and participants from all over the county. And there was a nice chunk of prize money to be had. They don’t do that in the Pony Club. Yet.

I thought it was interesting that this kind of a horse show was being held in Traverse City, about a three hour drive from our home. Traverse City has long been a place of fascination for me. When I was a kid, everyone around here associated the name “Traverse City” with psychological instability because it was home to a large state hospital.

“Hey, what happened to our teacher?” “They had to send her to Traverse City because we were bad.” “Yeah, fourth grade is tough on educators.”

It was only as an adult that I discovered that Traverse City, Michigan is an utterly cool place. My photographer and I started going up there in the early 90’s, having discovered an awesome bike trail which ran along the bays. For us, Traverse City means bike riding, hiking and the downtown brewpubs. Throw in a jaunt up Old Mission Peninsula to partake of its rural charm and vineyards, and we can have a great week-long vacation without even trying.

But last Wednesday, Traverse City was all about horses. That was when Horse Shows by the Bay opened its brand new permanent facility, just three miles east of Grand Traverse Bay. The photographer and I happened to be in town, so we thought it would be fun to drop in for the ribbon cutting ceremony. According to my sources, the old site at Chum’s Corner was available strictly on a year to year basis and show organizers and supporters didn’t find that deal all that chummy.

The new facility is impressive. There are four main arenas, each with an adjacent warm-up ring so there will be no excuse for missing one’s turn. Each pair of rings has an accompanying shaded pavilion with tables and chairs for the comfort of those not currently on top of a horse. There is a separate ring for lunging, wide pedestrian pathways connecting the arenas and about a gazillion stalls. It’s all new, all very nice and all set on a gorgeous piece of property with the soft rolling hills that are typical of my native state. The whole atmosphere is pleasant and inviting, rivaling even that of the downtown brewpubs. A big Michigan thumbs up on this one.

I was happy to be on hand for the opening ceremony because it was the first opportunity I had to put on my Phelps Equestrian Sports Network name badge since the photographer took it away from me after I wore it to the Sunset Riders’ 4-H Backyard Fun Show last year. For her part, the photographer learned how difficult it can be to get an action shot of a ribbon cutting. It happened so quick all she got was a photo that makes it look like the VIP holding one end of the already-snipped ribbon is asking a little group of VIP’s several feet away for assistance with some decorations. I like it, but next time we may insist on a ready-set-go format and see how that works.

Mason Phelps was there busily directing this camera here and that camera there, but he was nice enough to take the time to introduce me to one of the friendliest women I have ever met. She had just been interviewed by a gal from 7&4 News and she was cradling a bouquet of flowers in her left arm. Good ones, I think. I did what I always do when introduced to someone for the first time and instantly forgot her name. Despite this, I was genuinely happy to meet her, mainly because she seemed like she was in such a terrific mood. In fact, she was almost glowing – like a brand new mother when the nurse hands her the baby after checking for parts. I enjoy people like that.

Someone explained to me that the woman I just met was the “owner of Flint Fields.” Ah, I nodded and smiled as if I understood the significance of that. But as a Michigan boy, born and bred, I can certainly locate Flint on a map. The woman is an across the state neighbor.

Please bear with me as I impart a little geography of Michigan lesson. This will particularly interest those who have been wondering “Where the hell is Traverse City, anyway?” It’s easy. Just place your left hand in front of you with your palm facing out like a traffic cop. Traverse City is at the top of your pinky. Flint is the knuckle of your index finger. My photographer and I reside right around the pinky knuckle. Come visit.


Karin Flint - Owner of Flintfield Horse Park

As I walked away from the introduction, I was left to ponder what this woman’s property in the index finger knuckle region had to do with this wonderful new facility. Some people are important no matter where they go, I supposed.

Later, I found the answer in the program from last year that Jamie had given me. Under the “2006 Show Sponsors – Grand Prix” was the name of Karin Flint from D-BRAIDER. Forgive me, but I have no idea what D-BRAIDER is, but it sounds useful.

Anyway, that’s when it all came together. The awesome facility we had visited had been built on Flint Fields and the glowing lady I had met was the owner of the property. And she did indeed just have a baby. A healthy, happy baby with all its parts working nicely.

My photographer and I spent the next couple of hours roaming around Karin’s Flint’s new baby, taking pictures and watching the hunters do their thing over fences in the warm northern Michigan summer sunshine. The photographer commented that it was a lot more relaxing since we didn’t have either of our “brats” competing.

We plan on returning for the last weekend of the show. The state hospital is gone, but Traverse City is still good therapy and Horse Shows by the Bay gives us another reason to go for treatment.



Scott Lau, Designer to the Stars
Elise DeVoe for PhelpsSports.com, Friday, July 20, 2007

Scott Lau of Bradenton, FL, has been designing flowers for 25 years, but these are not just your typical centerpieces. Lau has been the creative force behind the beautiful and mostly artificial scenery at some of the top horse shows in the country: Capital Challenge, Washington International and the World Cup in Las Vegas, just to name a few. For the past two weeks, Lau has been in Traverse City, MI, arranging and maintaining almost 2,000 silk flowers for Horse Shows by the Bay. This afternoon, I was able to sit down with Lau and talk with him about his amazing resume and what it takes to be a designer to the stars.

ED: How did you break into the horse show world?

SL: The first show I ever did was in ’89, the World Cup in Tampa. I worked with Richard Jeffery there and at that time he was also course designing and doing the flowers for the Washington International Horse Show. So, he asked if I could come do the flowers while he did the courses and from there it just blossomed.

ED: I’ve heard you have quite an impressive resume. What other horse shows have you done?

SL: This will be my nineteenth year doing Washington. I did the American Jumping Classic in Cincinnati for 15 years. I’ve also done the Olympics in Atlanta, four world cups in Las Vegas, the Olympic trials in San Juan Capistrano, Oaks Blenheim and also Del Mar. I’ve done the CSI classes in San Juan Capistrano, a couple of those. I’ve done the New Albany Classic three times. Also, Capital Challenge for a number of years and the Vermont Summer Festival, [among others.] Since I started, I’ve done almost 60 shows in eight states and the District of Columbia.

ED: And what goes in to designing all the arrangements for a horse show?


SL: It depends on what show. Like, the World Cup I’ve done with Richard [Jeffery] and then we had some volunteers help us out. Just depends on how big the show is and how much there is to do for it. I’ll do mostly all the silk flowers and the big arrangements. Richard will do the plants and that kind of thing because there are so many plants at the World Cup. As far as Washington, I do it all. A lot of shows own their own flowers and then I come in and remake them, freshen them up and we go from there. For one-day shows, sometimes the flowers will be fresh. When we have to make them look good for a week, or two, or three, and even all your Indoor shows, the fresh stuff doesn’t show nearly as well as the silk. I’m always worried about people in the stands seeing stuff.

ED: Do you design your arrangements prior to a show or once you arrive?

SL: I usually sit down and talk to the [horse show management] prior to getting to the show. I’ll ship flowers from all over the country because to get the quantity you need for horse shows, like I said we have almost 2,000 flowers here, and to get them matching and to get enough I usually end up calling around the whole country trying to get wholesalers that have 180 or 360 matching something so that when I get [to the show] it doesn’t just look like one of these and one of those. We definitely discuss it ahead of time so I can see what they’re looking for. The great thing about [Horse Shows by the Bay] is that it was important to Alex and Dean [Rheinheimer] that everything look really nice and they were willing to put the money into it, which a lot of shows are not. They wanted to make sure things all matched and looked good together, that the rings all were very appealing, and I think we’ve accomplished that.

ED: What has Horse Shows by the Bay been like for you?

SL: The first five days, when I was putting everything together, were probably 13 to 14 hour days because everything had to be finished before the start of the show. And now it’s basically just at the end of the day when they are rebuilding the courses for the next day, just to make sure that everything looks right, the things that got smashed during the day and dirtied up need to be sprayed off with a hose and straightened back up and made to look like brand new. For this show, we’ve done 1,960 silk flowers around the show. We have 96 hanging baskets, 80 greens ground lines, 60 flower ground lines, 120 pots of flowers for around the jumps, flowers for two dressage rings, some small arrangements for the tables in the VIP tent, 8 large arrangements in the VIP tent, and those are all silk so they look good from start to finish for three weeks. So, that’s what we’ve done here.

ED: What is your favorite show to design for?

SL: Well, Horse Shows by the Bay is great because normally I’m in to a horse show and gone before the show even starts. This has been fun because Alex [Rheinheimer] wants me to stay. I loved doing the World Cup in Las Vegas. It was a lot of work and the hours were long but it was great. It’s been on TV, and I go home and everybody else is watching the horses and I’m watching the flowers [laughs]. The nice thing about horse shows it that you can step back and really see your work. In an arena like Las Vegas it’s like a huge centerpiece.

ED: After this show, where are you off to next?

SL: I go back to the silk flower shop in Tampa and then I’ll be at Capital Challenge in September and Washington International in October.

ED: Thanks for your time.

SL: Thank you. My fingers are feeling a little arthritic because it’s a lot of fluffing [laughs]. But it’s been a lot of fun.



 

 

2007 Phelps Media Group Press Coverage

Grand Traverse Resort & Spa Selected As Official Horse Shows by the Bay Host Hotel
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 Shows by the Bay III Wrap Up: August 1 - August 5
Release Date: 2007-08-06

Lynn Walsh Wins Ovation Leading Amateur Rider Award at Horse Shows by the Bay
Release Date: 2007-08-05

Milo Mott and Marquis Trump Class for Grand Prix Win at Zada Enterprises Dressage by the Bay II
Release Date: 2007-08-05

Bernona Stevens and Riva Show the Kids How It's Done in $10,000 NAL/WIHS Children's/Adult Prix on Last Day of Horse Shows by the Bay
Release Date: 2007-08-05

Scott Lenkart Wraps Up Final Week of Horse Shows by the Bay With a Second Grand Prix Victory on Impulsive
Release Date: 2007-08-04

Falkland Dragonfly and Barbara Butman Land at Top of Leaderboard in USDF Test of Choice Freestyle at Zada Enterprises Dressage by the Bay I
Release Date: 2007-08-03

Belvedere and Kimberly Seay Edge out Laura Pfeiffer for Win in Low Junior/Amateur Owner Speed Class
Release Date: 2007-08-03

Lisa Goldman and Ruben are Victorious at Horse Shows by the Bay III
Release Date: 2007-08-03

Kelly Burke Hayner and Rantaro Top Field in FEI Prix St. Georges on First Day of Competition at Dressage by the Bay I
Release Date: 2007-08-02

Peter Pletcher Wins Ovation Leading Professional Rider Award at Horse Shows by the Bay
Release Date: 2007-08-02

Scott Lenkart Takes Top Two Spots in PhelpsSports.com $10,000 Welcome Prix at Horse Shows by the Bay III
Release Date: 2007-08-02

Zada Enterprises, LLC, Dressage by the Bay Joins Horse Shows by the Bay for its Third Week
Release Date: 2007-08-01

Casey Hodges and Rinaldi Take Win in 5 & 6 Year Old Young Jumpers at First Day of Horse Shows by the Bay III
Release Date: 2007-08-01

Horse Shows by the Bay II Wrap Up: July 25 - July 29, 2007
Release Date: 2007-07-30

Bridget Hallman and Hear Say Win Tricolor and Grand Championship at Horse Shows by the Bay II
Release Date: 2007-07-29

Brian Shook Shakes it Up for Win in $25,000 Grand Traverse Bay Grand Prix at Horse Shows by the Bay II
Release Date: 2007-07-29

Tammy Provost Rides North Shore Straight to the Win in the $10,000 Hunter Classic at Horse Shows by the Bay II
Release Date: 2007-07-28

Orley and Kels Bonham Prove Consistency is Key in Back-to-Back Wins in $10,000 SJHOF Jumper Prix
Release Date: 2007-07-28

David Beisel and Irish Hunt Have Repeat Performance in $10,000 Positive Step Farm Welcome Prix at Horse Shows by the Bay II
Release Date: 2007-07-27

David Beisel and Irish Hunt Catch Win in $3,000 NAL Open Speed at Horse Shows by the Bay II
Release Date: 2007-07-26

Peter Pletcher Rides Cape Town to Grand Working Hunter Tricolor at Horse Shows by the Bay II
Release Date: 2007-07-26

Zada Enterprises, LLC, Dressage by the Bay Arrives at Flintfields in Traverse City Next Week
Release Date: 2007-07-26

Julia Lourie and Vivaldi In Tune for Win in High Junior/Amateur Owner Jumpers at Horse Shows by the Bay II
Release Date: 2007-07-25

Hunter Riders Come Out in Full Force for Horse Shows by the Bay II
Release Date: 2007-07-25

Horse Shows by the Bay I Wrap Up: July 18-July 22, 2007
Release Date: 2007-07-24

Amigo F and Grace Socha Win $1,000 Junior/Amateur-Owner Hunter Classic at Horse Shows by the Bay I
Release Date: 2007-07-22

Scott Lenkart and Impulsive Win $25,000 Grand Prix of Traverse City at Horse Shows by the Bay I
Release Date: 2007-07-22

Katie Polk and Eminem Win $10,000 NAL/WIHS Adult Hunter Classic at Horse Shows by the Bay I
Release Date: 2007-07-21

Kels Bonham Pilots Orley to Victory Over Khari Taustin and Katja in $10,000 SJHOF Junior/Amateur Owner Jumper Prix
Release Date: 2007-07-21

Roberto Teran and Distant Star 3E Win $10,000 Welcome Prix at Horse Shows by the Bay I
Release Date: 2007-07-20

Louise Serio and Reese capture Grand Working Hunter Championship at Horse Shows by the Bay I
Release Date: 2007-07-19

Sven Frei and Quebec Victorious in $3,000 NAL Open Speed at Horse Shows by the Bay I
Release Date: 2007-07-19

Michigan Native Erin Haas Captures Top Two Places in Low Junior/Amateur Owner Jumper Class on First Day of Horse Shows by the Bay
Release Date: 2007-07-18

Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony Celebrating New Permanent Facility Highlights Horse Shows by the Bay’s Opening Day
Release Date: 2007-07-18

Horse Sports by the Bay to Host Five Fundraisers Over the Course of its Three-Week Equestrian Festival
Client: Horse Sports by the Bay, Inc.

Release Date: 2007-07-18

Horse Shows by the Bay to Host Kid's Day on Saturday, July 21
Release Date: 2007-07-05

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony to Kick Off Fourth Annual Horse Shows by the Bay on July 18, 2007
Release Date: 2007-07-02

Quality Vendors to Sponsor Championships and Series Awards at Horse Shows by the Bay
Release Date: 2007-06-22

Horse Shows by the Bay Adds Hunter Classic Prize Money to 2007 Summer Series
Release Date: 2007-06-04

Local Attractions and Area Highlights Make Horse Shows by the Bay and Zada Enterprises, LLC Dressage by the Bay a Summer Vacation
Release Date: 2007-05-21

Nation’s Top Riders Hunt for World Champion Hunter Rider Points at Horse Shows by the Bay
Release Date: 2007-05-03

New Horse Park Location Brings Additional Area Business Partners to Horse Shows by the Bay
Release Date: 2007-04-19

Sponsors Ensure Success of Horse Shows by the Bay and Dressage by the Bay
Release Date: 2007-03-29

Horse Shows by the Bay and Zada Enterprises, LLC Dressage by the Bay Prize List is Now Available!
Release Date: 2007-03-16

Fast Facts: 2007 Horse Shows by the Bay and Zada Enterprises, LLC Dressage by the Bay
Release Date: 2007-03-08

Save the Date: Horse Shows by the Bay and Dressage by the Bay, Traverse City, MI: July 18, 2007 – August 5, 2007
Release Date: 2007-02-06

Horse Sports by the Bay Teams Up With Phelps Media Group
Release Date: 2007-01-17


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.


©2008 Horse Sports by the Bay, Inc