Traverse City, MI - November 2, 2010: Horse Sports by the Bay, Inc and Flintfields Horse Park are pleased to announce that the 2011 Horse Shows by the Bay Equestrian Festival is expanding to five contiguous weeks next season. Held each summer in beautiful Traverse City, MI, the Horse Shows by the Bay Equestrian Festival features some of the country's best horses and riders competing in the hunter, jumper, equitation and dressage disciplines. Events will be starting on June 30 with two back-to-back USDF Level 3 rated dressage shows and then will be followed by four weeks of USEF AA Hunter - Level 4 Jumper competition starting July 6 thru July 31. Over $450,000 is being allocated to prize money and awards and well over a half million dollars is being invested by facility owner Karin Flint in new footing. Dave Steffee of Steffee Surfaces is overseeing the installation.

Dressage by the Bay Series I and II, June 30 - July 1 and July 2 - 3, 2011, will once again be the only rated dressage shows held in Northern Michigan. The series offers first-class competition, two breed shows, an evening of FEI Musical Freestyle and also provides two opportunities to qualify for the Region 2 Dressage Championships.

Highlights of the four weeks of rated hunter/jumper competition include a weekly show jumping grand prix, a USHJA International Hunter Derby, a USHJA National Hunter Derby Classic, plus World Championship Hunter Rider sanctioning. Series I will run July 6 - 10, Series II will run July 13 - 17, Series III will run July 20 - 24 and Series IV will wrap things up July 27 - 31, 2011.

"We decided to expand the hunter/jumper series to a month based on customer feedback - at the end of last season no one wanted to leave!" states festival show manager Alexandra Rheinheimer. "There truly isn't a better place to spend the summertime than in beautiful Northern Michigan."

Flintfields Horse Park is located ten miles east of downtown Traverse City, MI which offers just about every resort amenity imaginable. The area is famous for its superb golf courses, pristine beaches, action-packed casinos, fishing, shopping, vineyards, and excellent award-winning dining. More information on the Horse Shows by the Bay Equestrian Festival will be available soon and can be found by visiting www.horseshowsbytheybay.com.