The first week of competition at Horse Shows by the Bay (July 16-20) has been awarded this year the prestigious World Champion Hunter Rider sanctioning by the American Hunter-Jumper Foundation (AHJF). Horse Shows by the Bay is a three-week equestrian festival held in scenic Traverse City, MI, July 16-August 3. In addition to its WCHR sanctioning, Horse Shows by the Bay will hold numerous hunter classics throughout the three weeks of competition and will offer fantastic prize money.

Attaining sanctioning from the AHJF to designate a competition as a World Champion Hunter Rider show is not easy, 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.

By reaching the standards of the AHJF, Horse Shows by the Bay draws some of the best hunter riders in the nation. Last year, they hosted the 2007 AHJF Hunter Spectacular winner Tim Gogeun, two-time WCHR Rider of the Year Louise Serio, and three-time WCHR Rider of the Year Peter Pletcher, among many others.

Highlight classes for the hunters in 2008 include the $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby presented by Janet P. Read—member event of the ASG Software Solutions/USHJA International Hunter Derby, presented by Dietrich Insurance, featuring Walsh Harness & Saddlery. This special event is one in a series of high-performance classes for hunters. It will be held on Saturday, July 26.

There will be $5,000 North American League/Washington International Horse Show Classics for Adult and Children's Hunters, which are sponsored by Lisa A.H. Cudahy, on Saturday, July 19. The $5,000 Junior/Amateur-Owner Classic, sponsored by Lanes End, and a $5,000 Pony Hunter Classic sponsored by Peter Pletcher, are on Sunday, July 20. The $1,000 Ride for the Ribbon 2'6" Non-Pro Hunter Classic is on Saturday, July 26.

In addition to these great classes, there are other hunter classics held during each week for short stirrup, pony hunters, children's pony hunters, junior/amateur-owners, children's, and adult hunters.

Each week at Horse Shows by the Bay, the grand hunter champions, sponsored by Mr. and Mrs. Forrest Shook, will win awards in divisions for conformation hunter, working hunter, pony hunter, junior hunter, amateur-owner hunter, adult hunter, children's hunter and children's pony hunter.

For more information regarding Horse Shows by the Bay and to see a complete schedule of the hunter events, please visit www.horseshowsbythebay.com.