A new partnership and new championship events are on tap for the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival. Flintfields Horse Park and Traverse City Horse Shows, LLC, the parent company of the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival and the Traverse City Spring Horse Show, is entering into a cultural and marketing partnership with the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians and its properties.

The partnership will “celebrate the culture and history of the Grand Traverse Band, while connecting horse show competitors and spectators” with nearby Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel and Grand Traverse Resort and Spa.

“We are honored to partner with the Grand Traverse Band, and we look forward to integrating elements of their culture into our events,” says Matt Morrissey, Event Director of Traverse City Horse Shows. “The Band is an integral part of the region, and we look forward to sharing their culture and history while at the same time enriching the experience of our competitors.”

Turtle Creek Casino will have a high-profile presence at Flintfields Horse Park for all events at what will be known as the Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel International Ring. “We are both honored and grateful to further expand our partnership with the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival,” says Thurlow “Sam” McClellan, Tribal Chairman.

"Last year's cultural exhibition at the grand prix was truly a positive experience for not only participants and guests, but for our tribal members and our dancers, singers, and drummers. We look forward to sharing more of our stories and traditions for years to come.”

Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel will also become the presenting partner of the new Traverse City Spring Horse Show, an FEI competition taking place June 11-21. An internationally-recognized competition with world ranking points, this event is expected to attract competitors from around the country.

The Great Lakes Equestrian Festival is also adding the United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) Zone Jumper Team Championships for Zones 5 and 6, as well as the USHJA Platinum Jumper Championships, to its 2020 summer competition schedule. Both events will be held July 29-Aug. 2, and will celebrate the skills of child, adult, junior, amateur and professional athletes both individually and in teams in a series of divisions.

Zone 5 represents Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan and Ohio, while Zone 6 is comprised of members from Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. The USHJA Platinum Jumper Championships offer team and individual competition and an opportunity to qualify for a USHJA Platinum Masters Training Session with top national and international industry experts.