Horse Shows Dispute Reaches Conclusion

The TIcker has learned that the high stakes dispute over the four-week Horse Shows By The Bay equestrian festival is nearing a conclusion.

Horse Shows Founder and Owner Alex Rheinheimer will sell all interests in the event, making way for the new Great Lakes Equestrian Festival, produced by Stadium Jumping, Inc. The deal, the final strokes of which are still being finalized, ensures that at least four weeks of competition -- along with thousands of horses and trainers and staff and millions of dollars -- will continue at Flintfields in Acme Township.

Rheinheimer said, "I am pleased that the tradition of horse shows in Traverse City has found in Stadium Jumping and its owner, Michael Morrissey, a promoter with a terrific reputation and national experience. The region is in good hands for years to come. It was a difficult decision to move on from Traverse City, but that decision is easier knowing that Stadium Jumping has expanded its presence to Michigan and I am confident that Traverse City will be well-served by the change."

Michael Morrissey of Stadium Jumping added, "Stadium Jumping is very excited about expanding its operations to this part of the world, where the enthusiasm of the community and the horse owners is apparent. We come on the heels of over a decade of exceptional and award-winning shows by HSBB and look forward to meeting the high standards that the community has come to expect."

The new show is scheduled to run four weeks: July 1-5, July 8-12, July 15-19 and July 22-26, 2015.