Nearby Sleeping Bear Dunes was voted America’s most beautiful place by the viewers of ABC’s Good Morning America.

Traverse City, MI – April 25, 2015 – The Great Lakes Equestrian Festival will kick off at Flintfields Horse Park July 1 and will run for four weeks through July 26. Reserve your stalls today for world-class competition set in the idyllic surroundings of the Traverse City, Michigan area. Known for its pristine beaches, the area was voted one of the top 10 best summer trips by the travel editors at National Geographic. Viewers of ABC’s Good Morning America voted nearby Sleeping Bear Dunes, “The Most Beautiful Place in America.” Traverse City was named Smithsonian Magazine’s “Top Ten Best Small Towns to Visit in 2015.” With average July temperatures ranging from 58-81, it’s the perfect place to compete, escape the heat and enjoy the beautiful shores of Lake Michigan. In addition to reserving your stalls, you’ll want to book your accommodations soon for the popular summer vacation destination. Expect high standards and exceptional competition produced by Stadium Jumping, Inc., a leading, award-winning international show jumping event management firm. Highlights of the four weeks include a weekly $50,000 Grand Prix, $25,000 Jumper Classic and a weekly $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby. Plus, during Week 4 Great Lakes Equestrian Festival will feature a $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby.”We are excited for our first summer season in the Traverse City area,” said Michael Morrissey, President of Stadium Jumping. “We look forward to great competition, providing great customer service and making lifetime summer memories for exhibitors, families and friends.”

Photo by Phelps Media Group

The Great Lakes Equestrian Festival is the perfect venue to prepare for this year’s Pan American Games, which will be held at the Caledon Equestrian Park in Palgrave, just outside of Toronto, Canada. Show jumping during the Pan-Am Games runs from July 17- 25. The close proximity (just 430 miles) makes Great Lakes Equestrian Festival a convenient half-day drive to the Pan-Am Games venue and provides three great weeks prep time in Michigan’s very similar climate. Add to that world-class course designers, including Michele Vaillancourt, Leopoldo Palacios, Bernardo Costa Cabral and Keith Bollotte, on hand to build thoughtful, innovative and challenging tracks means that Great Lakes Equestrian Festival is the ideal summer competition to get ready to go for the Gold. Stall reservations are on a first-come-first-serve basis until sold out. Reservation forms can be found at: www.stadiumjumping.com. For sponsorships and camper spaces please contact Brooke Berganza at brooke.berganza@stadiumjumping.com or Ainsley Bernstein at ainsley@conniesawyerllc.com 2015 GREAT LAKES EQUESTRIAN FESTIVAL FAST FACTS:WHEN: 2015 FESTIVAL DATESJuly 1-5July 8-12July 15-19July 22-26WHAT: A four-week long hunter and jumper equestrian festival.HIGHLIGHTS:Weekly $5,000 USHJA National Hunter DerbyWeekly $25,000 Jumper ClassicWeekly $50,000 Grand PrixWeek 4 $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby  WHERE:  Flintfields Horse Park, 6535 Bates Road, Williamsburg, MI 49690 – 10 miles east from the beautiful Resort town of Traverse City.