Wednesday, July 17, 2024 1:00 PM
by Mike Kent
The road to the Paris Olympics this year runs through Traverse City. Or so it seems. Fans of the Equestrian Olympics Competition will witness several horses and riders who honed their athletic abilities at the Traverse City Horse Shows (TCHS).
“We were a small piece of their story,” said Lindsay Brock, Press Officer of Traverser City Horse Shows. “When we watch them, there is a sense of pride for us. We root for these people since we see them so often. We feel we are a part of their team. It’s special for us to see them reach their Olympic goals.”
Riders and their horses come from many countries to compete in Traverse City. They include participants from the USA, Canada, Mexico, Ireland, Israel, and other locations. In all, an average of up to 1,400 horses and over 4,000 riders participate over the 13-week season.
Team USA includes Kent Farrington, his horse Greya from Florida, and McLain Ward with his horse Ilex of New York, while Karl Cook and his horse Caracole de la Rogue of California are alternates. Shane Sweetnam is riding James Kann Cruz for Team Ireland. All of them have competed in Traverse City.
“There are so many more top-level events in northern America now like Traverse City Horse Shows,” said Brock. “From horse and rider development we saw them with the Paris Olympics in the back of their minds,” Brock said they are attracted by the quality of the facilities, the caliber of competition, and the draw of things to do in the Traverse City region.
Now in its tenth year, TCHS is a strong economic driver to the region. A 2021 study revealed the Shows annually contributed $120 million to the northern Michigan economy. All shows are open to the public. Weekend shows have a gate fee starting at $15 with the proceeds going to local charities.
Equestrian events in the Olympics date back to the Ancient Greek games when the competition was viewed as a way to train horses for war. The sport first appeared in the modern Olympic Games in 1900 in the same city where the games are hosted this year, Paris, France.
Once the Olympic Torch is extinguished, the opportunity to watch the next round of future Olympians starts in Traverse City on September 11 with two 5-star events running through September 22: the Longines World Cup Qualifier and the American Gold Cup. The World Cup qualifier, new to Traverse City this year, is part of a series that ends in Basel, Switzerland, for the final. Brock notes, “It attracts top-tier athletes and is a pretty big deal for Traverse City Horse Shows.”
All competition takes place at Flintfields Horse Park, with over 130 acres devoted to the Equestrian competition. The fields are about a 20-minute drive from downtown Traverse City. Get full details at http://www.traversecityhorseshows.com.
Author: Mike Kent
Mike Kent is the PR Manager for Traverse City Tourism. He has decades of experience in journalism and marketing. He was a TV political reporter in Lansing and news manager in Detroit, Lansing and Traverse City. Biking area trails, enjoying a craft brew with friends and family, or just enjoying Grand Traverse Bay makes his life complete.
