Traverse City, MI - Flintfields Horse Park, home of the Horse Shows by the Bay Equestrian Festival, is pleased to report that plans are well underway for the new footing that is being installed this spring in the main competition arenas and warm ups. Footing that stays safe and consistent throughout the course of the competition, no matter the weather, is very important to management and Flintfields Horse Park owner, Karin Flint. David Steffee of Steffee Surfaces will be overseeing the installation and is starting in April on the five ring project.

The Grand Prix Ring and its respective warm up will be featuring Steffee's Ebb and Flow system. The system allows for the control of the moisture level within the top layer of the surface at all times. This type of footing is also the same type of footing featured in the FEI Warm Up at the Winter Equestrian Festival show grounds. According to Karen Golding, Chief FEI Steward, "All the riders love it! I highly recommend it!"

As well as being a quality surface, this type of system also has the "green" benefits that Flintfields is looking for. In the event of rain, the excess water will be pumped out and stored. This water will then be used for other purposes such as plant irrigation and the watering of the roads and other competition arenas.

The R.L. Polk Family Ring, Ring 3 and their respective warm-up will be resurfaced with new limestone and sand. All current limestone and sand will be removed and all work will be done by a combination of GPS and Laser guided equipment insuring the consistency of the cushion. Ring 4, the VanKampen Ring, and their warm up will be re-conditioned as well.

The Horse Shows by the Bay Equestrian Festival series features some of the very best riders and horses from all over the country competing in show jumping, dressage, equitation and show hunters. Over $550,000 in total prize money is being awarded this season. Each hunter/jumper week offers a $30,000 Grand Prix, $10,000 Open Jumper Welcome Prix, $10,000 Show Jumping Hall of Fame Junior/Amateur-Owner Prix, NAL/WIHS Hunter & Jumper Qualifiers, Young Jumper Championship Qualifiers, and "AA" Hunter Divisions and Classics. The series also boats a $20,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, a $5,000 WCHR Handy Hunter Classic, a $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Classic, and USHJA/WCHR sanctioning. The feature event of the dressage shows is a $5,000 FEI Musical Freestyle.

Flintfields Horse Park is located ten miles east of scenic Traverse City, MI which is world-renowned for its vacation destination atmosphere. Dressage by the Bay Series I and II will run from June 30-July 2 while the month-long Horse Shows by the Bay Series will take place July 6-31.

For more information on the Horse Shows by the Bay Equestrian Festival please contact Alexandra Rheinheimer at 561-723-6287 or [email protected] or www.horseshowsbythebay.com. Prize Lists for both Series will be available online shortly.

ENDS