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Horse
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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.
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? |
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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. |
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2007 Phelps Media Group Press Coverage Grand
Traverse Resort & Spa Selected As Official Horse Shows by the Bay
Host Hotel Horse
Shows by the Bay’s Dean and Alexandra Rheinheimer receive 2007 Community
Champions Award from the Traverse City Visitor and Convention Bureau Horse
Shows by the Bay III Wrap Up: August 1 - August 5 Lynn
Walsh Wins Ovation Leading Amateur Rider Award at Horse Shows by the Bay Milo
Mott and Marquis Trump Class for Grand Prix Win at Zada Enterprises Dressage
by the Bay II 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 Scott
Lenkart Wraps Up Final Week of Horse Shows by the Bay With a Second Grand
Prix Victory on Impulsive Falkland
Dragonfly and Barbara Butman Land at Top of Leaderboard in USDF Test of
Choice Freestyle at Zada Enterprises Dressage by the Bay I Belvedere
and Kimberly Seay Edge out Laura Pfeiffer for Win in Low Junior/Amateur
Owner Speed Class Lisa
Goldman and Ruben are Victorious at Horse Shows by the Bay III Kelly
Burke Hayner and Rantaro Top Field in FEI Prix St. Georges on First Day
of Competition at Dressage by the Bay I Peter
Pletcher Wins Ovation Leading Professional Rider Award at Horse Shows
by the Bay Scott
Lenkart Takes Top Two Spots in PhelpsSports.com $10,000 Welcome Prix at
Horse Shows by the Bay III Zada
Enterprises, LLC, Dressage by the Bay Joins Horse Shows by the Bay for
its Third Week Casey
Hodges and Rinaldi Take Win in 5 & 6 Year Old Young Jumpers at First
Day of Horse Shows by the Bay III Horse
Shows by the Bay II Wrap Up: July 25 - July 29, 2007 Bridget
Hallman and Hear Say Win Tricolor and Grand Championship at Horse Shows
by the Bay II Brian
Shook Shakes it Up for Win in $25,000 Grand Traverse Bay Grand Prix at
Horse Shows by the Bay II Tammy
Provost Rides North Shore Straight to the Win in the $10,000 Hunter Classic
at Horse Shows by the Bay II Orley
and Kels Bonham Prove Consistency is Key in Back-to-Back Wins in $10,000
SJHOF Jumper Prix David
Beisel and Irish Hunt Have Repeat Performance in $10,000 Positive Step
Farm Welcome Prix at Horse Shows by the Bay II David
Beisel and Irish Hunt Catch Win in $3,000 NAL Open Speed at Horse Shows
by the Bay II Peter
Pletcher Rides Cape Town to Grand Working Hunter Tricolor at Horse Shows
by the Bay II Zada
Enterprises, LLC, Dressage by the Bay Arrives at Flintfields in Traverse
City Next Week Julia
Lourie and Vivaldi In Tune for Win in High Junior/Amateur Owner Jumpers
at Horse Shows by the Bay II Hunter
Riders Come Out in Full Force for Horse Shows by the Bay II Horse
Shows by the Bay I Wrap Up: July 18-July 22, 2007 Amigo
F and Grace Socha Win $1,000 Junior/Amateur-Owner Hunter Classic at Horse
Shows by the Bay I Scott
Lenkart and Impulsive Win $25,000 Grand Prix of Traverse City at Horse
Shows by the Bay I Katie
Polk and Eminem Win $10,000 NAL/WIHS Adult Hunter Classic at Horse Shows
by the Bay I Kels
Bonham Pilots Orley to Victory Over Khari Taustin and Katja in $10,000
SJHOF Junior/Amateur Owner Jumper Prix Roberto
Teran and Distant Star 3E Win $10,000 Welcome Prix at Horse Shows by the
Bay I Louise
Serio and Reese capture Grand Working Hunter Championship at Horse Shows
by the Bay I Sven
Frei and Quebec Victorious in $3,000 NAL Open Speed at Horse Shows by
the Bay I Michigan
Native Erin Haas Captures Top Two Places in Low Junior/Amateur Owner Jumper
Class on First Day of Horse Shows by the Bay Ribbon-Cutting
Ceremony Celebrating New Permanent Facility Highlights Horse Shows by
the Bay’s Opening Day Horse
Sports by the Bay to Host Five Fundraisers Over the Course of its Three-Week
Equestrian Festival Horse
Shows by the Bay to Host Kid's Day on Saturday, July 21 Ribbon
Cutting Ceremony to Kick Off Fourth Annual Horse Shows by the Bay on July
18, 2007 Quality
Vendors to Sponsor Championships and Series Awards at Horse Shows by the
Bay Horse
Shows by the Bay Adds Hunter Classic Prize Money to 2007 Summer Series Local
Attractions and Area Highlights Make Horse Shows by the Bay and Zada Enterprises,
LLC Dressage by the Bay a Summer Vacation Nation’s
Top Riders Hunt for World Champion Hunter Rider Points at Horse Shows
by the Bay New
Horse Park Location Brings Additional Area Business Partners to Horse
Shows by the Bay Sponsors
Ensure Success of Horse Shows by the Bay and Dressage by the Bay Horse
Shows by the Bay and Zada Enterprises, LLC Dressage by the Bay Prize List
is Now Available! Fast
Facts: 2007 Horse Shows by the Bay and Zada Enterprises, LLC Dressage
by the Bay Save
the Date: Horse Shows by the Bay and Dressage by the Bay, Traverse City,
MI: July 18, 2007 – August 5, 2007 Horse
Sports by the Bay Teams Up With Phelps Media Group Local Attractions and Area Highlights Make Horse Shows by the Bay and Dressage by the Bay a Summer Vacation Wellington, FL – May 18, 2007 – Riders who compete at the 2007 Horse Shows by the Bay and Dressage by the Bay are treated to more than a world-class horse show. 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. Cherries Day Trips Torch Lake is another destination for a special day trip and is located just 30 minutes north of Traverse City. The lake is known for its exceptional beauty as its waters are unusually clear and exhibit a bright turquoise hue. It’s also a popular fishing destination and was named one of the world’s most beautiful lakes by National Geographic Magazine. Grand Traverse Lighthouse & Museum Sleeping Bear Dunes Downtown and Old Town Shopping Golfing Fishing Wineries MEDIA CONTACT: Chrissy Lane of Phelps Media Group, Inc. at (561) 753-3389 or at pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
Horse
show kicks up rave reviews 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.
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