Traverse City, MI - February 16, 2011 - Horse Sports by the Bay, Inc. and Flintfields Horse Park are pleased to announce details for the upcoming 2011 Horse Shows by the Bay Equestrian Festival, which is expanding to five contiguous weeks this year. 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 - July 31. Over $550,000 is being allocated to prize money and awards. All new footing is being installed in the main competition arena, with David Steffee of Steffee Surfaces handling the project.

Dressage by the Bay Series I and II, June 30 - July 1 and July 2, 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 $5000 FEI Musical Freestyle competition and also provides multiple opportunities to qualify for the USDF/GAIG Region 2 Dressage Championships, and the USDF Breeders Championships.

Highlights of the four weeks of rated hunter/jumper competition include a weekly $30,000 show jumping grand prix, a $20,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, $10,000 Children's/Adult Jumper Prix, a $5,000 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.

"I can't think of a better place to spend the summer then 'up north' in beautiful northwest Michigan," said Alexandra Rheinheimer, Owner and Show Manager. "Traverse City has so much to offer, especially if you like spending your spare time on the water or out on the golf course. Our circuit is truly great for families looking for more than just a horse show - but rather a vacation of sorts."

2011 HORSE SHOWS BY THE BAY EQUESTRIAN FESTIVAL FAST FACTS

WHEN: 2011 FESTIVAL DATES

Dressage by the Bay Series I: June 30 & July 1
Dressage by the Bay Series II: July 2

Horse Shows by the Bay Series I: July 6 - 10
Horse Shows by the Bay Series II: July 13 - 17
Horse Shows by the Bay Series III: July 20 - 24
Horse Shows by the Bay Series IV: July 27 - 31

EVENT: Horse Shows by the Bay Equestrian Festival

WHAT: A five week long hunter /jumper & dressage equestrian festival that attracts 1,500 horses and their riders who are in attendance to accumulate year end points and compete for $550,000 total prize money.

SANCTIONED BY: United States Equestrian Federation, United States Hunter-Jumper Association, United States Dressage Federation, North American League, Young Jumper Championships, Show Jumping Hall of Fame, World Champion Hunter Rider Awards Program, Washington International Horse Show Championships, Hunter-Jumper Association of Michigan, Ohio Hunter-Jumper Association, Ohio Professional Horseman's Association, Indiana Hunter-Jumper Association, Wisconsin Hunter-Jumper Association, and Michigan Horse Show Association

WHERE: Flintfields Horse Park, 6535 Bates Road, Williamsburg, MI 49690 - 10 miles east from the beautiful Resort town of Traverse City complete with NEW FOOTING!

WEEK X WEEK HIGHLIGHTS of the 2011 HORSE SHOWS BY THE BAY EQUESTRIAN FESTIVAL:

June 30 & July 1-2: Dressage by the Bay Series I & II
-Two back-to-back USDF sanctioned events
-$5000 FEI Musical Freestyle
-Multiple qualifiers for the GAIG Regional Championships & USDF Breeders Championships.

July 6 - 10: Horse Shows by the Bay Series 1
- $30,000 Grand Prix of Traverse City
- $10,000 Open Jumper Welcome Stake
- $10,000 SJHOF Jr/AO Jumper Prix
- $5,000 NAL/WIHS Low Jr/AO Jumper Classic
- $2500 NAL/WIHS Children's & Adult Jumper Classics
- $2,500 Pre-Green Hunter Classic
- $1,000 JR/AO/Pony Hunter Classics
- $1,000 NAL/WIHS Children's & Adult Hunter Classics

July 13 - 17: Horse Shows by the Bay Series II WCHR Member Event
- $30,000 Grand Traverse Bay Grand Prix
- $10,000 Open Jumper Welcome Stake
- $10,000 SJHOF Jr/AO Jumper Prix
- $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Classic
- $5,000 WCHR Handy Hunter Classic
- $5,000 NAL Low Jr/AO Jumper Classic
- $2500 NAL/WIHS Children's & Adult Jumper Classics
- $1,000 Pony Hunter Classic
- $1,000 NAL/WIHS Children's & Adult Hunter Classics.

July 20 - 24: Horse Shows by the Bay Series III
- $30,000 Grand Prix of the Great Lakes
- $20,000 International Hunter Derby
- $10,000 Open Jumper Welcome Stake
- $10,000 SJHOF Jr/AO Jumper Prix
- $5,000 NAL Low Jr/AO Jumper Classic
- $5,000 NAL/WIHS Children's & Adult Jumper Classics
- $1,000 Pony Hunter Classic
- $1,000 NAL/WIHS Children's & Adult Hunter Classics

July 27 - 31: Horse Shows by the Bay Series IV
- $30,000 D-BRAIDER Cherry Capital Classic Grand Prix
- HJAM Equitation Medal Finals
- $10,000 Open Jumper Welcome Stake
- $10,000 SJHOF Jr/AO Jumper Prix
- $10,000 NAL/WIHS Children's & Adult Jumper Prix
- $5,000 NAL Low Jr/AO Jumper Classic
- $1000 JR/AO/Pony Hunter Classics
- $1,000 NAL Children's & Adult Hunter Classics

Fun Facts:
Charity Fundraisers
Exhibitor Socials
Easy In-Easy Out Airport
Casinos
Fantastic Vacation Destination Setting!
Fun for the Entire Family!!

For more information on the Horse Shows by the Bay Equestrian Festival please visit www.horseshowsbythebay.com, become a friend on Facebook, and/or call Alexandra Rheinheimer at 561.723.6287.

ENDS