ATTACHED PHOTOS

Click on the above photos for details and a high resolution version.

Photographs may be used free of charge only in relation to the PMG press releases they pertain to.

Traverse City’s The Record Eagle Teams Up With Horse Shows by the Bay To Help Promote Event And Horse Show Lifestyle

Written by: Jennifer Wood
Client: Horse Sports by the Bay, Inc.
Release Date: 2008-02-11

Traverse City, MI - February 11, 2008 - Ever wondered what life is like on the national horse show circuit? And who exactly are these equestrians that make Traverse City their home every summer for three weeks? Now both area residents and other interested individuals will have an opportunity to find out more about the equestrian lifestyle and equestrian sports through two unique and exciting media provided by Traverse City’s daily newspaper, The Record Eagle. Horse Shows by the Bay runs from July 16 through August 3, 2008.

Starting today, the Web site for the largest periodical in Northern Michigan will feature a weekly blog written by Leelanau, MI, resident Alissa Norris about what life is like for a horse crazy high school student competing on the “AA” hunter/jumper circuit. The blog, titled “Horse Tales”, is a weekly series showcasing Norris and her two horses Sparky and Rou. Norris, 16, rides and trains with Melissa Hirt, head trainer of Northern Pines Farm based out of Maple City.

Norris recently moved to Leelanau in order to train year round with Hirt and to attend the Leelanau School, a unique establishment that provides a high performance program for athletes such as Norris looking to keep up with their sports while receiving a top-notch high school education. Currently Norris, Hirt and the horses, along with a handful of other Traverse City area-based students, are in Wellington, FL, competing in the 2008 CN Winter Equestrian Festival.

In addition to the weekly blog, The Record Eagle in partnership with the Horse Shows by the Bay equestrian festival will be producing an event guide to be inserted in their Wednesday circulation coinciding with opening day of the summer event. The purpose of the event guide is to educate the general public about the event and the Olympic disciplines it features.

Horse Shows by the Bay’s co-founder Alexandra Rheinheimer said, “I can’t think of a better way to promote and educate our audience than through the local newspaper and their Web site. Alissa is going to get the general public interested and then the event guide is really going to bring it home. I’m excited to watch it unfold! I can’t thank The Record Eagle enough for their interest and participation.”

Horse Shows by the Bay is produced by Traverse City, MI, residents Dean and Alexandra Rheinheimer. The 2008 event, slated to kick off July 16, expects to host 1,200 horses on the grounds and bring more than $7 million to the local tourism economy.

To read Alissa Norris’s “Horse Tales” blog, please visit http://blogs.record-eagle.com/genwhy.

Horse Show information can be found by visiting www.horseshowsbythebay.com or by calling 561-723-6287.

Photo Credit: Competitors at the Horse Shows by the Bay series in Traverse City, MI. Photo © 2007 Randi Muster. This photo may be used free of charge only in relation to this press release.