18 SIDELINES JUNE 2012
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
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Growing Flintfields
Horse Park
By Lauren R. Giannini
Vision – the kind made up of creativity, imagination,
inventiveness, innovation and inspiration – pretty much sums
up the collaboration between Karin Flint and Alex Rheinheimer
that has established Michigan as a major stop on the summer
show circuit. Karin’s Flintfelds Horse Park provides a beautifully
landscaped backdrop for Alex’s uber-successful Horse Shows
By The Bay. The US Equestrian Federation AA-rated series can
measure its success in many ways; but one of the most telling
indicators is being named for two consecutive years to the top 25
show list compiled by North American Riders Group (NARG).
“I’m in a unique position, because I’m the owner of the place
and my horses exhibit there,” said Karin. “I’ve also been a horse
show manager. I’ve worn all the hats!”
Flintfelds and Horse Shows By The Bay owe their existence to
the late, great Detroit and Motor City Horse Shows, which ran in
June from 1934 to 2000 when the property was sold. Karin had
served as co-chair for the last seven years and Alex, a licensed
jumper judge and announcer, had worked for the shows.
“We wanted to replace Detroit and Motor City,” recalled Karin. “I
was always in contact with Alex; but we knew of no place suitable
for a big show. Alex went traveling through Michigan, looking, and
fell in love with Traverse City.”
The frst Horse Show By The Bay took place in 2004 on rented
land. They wanted to see if people would travel north and if the
show concept would work. It certainly did.
“I started helping out. It took three years to fnd the right place
and I bought Flintfelds in January, 2007 – a bare piece of land
with woods,” said Karin. “It was a 24/7 endeavor, a massive
undertaking; but we were up and running by July. I hired a large
construction company from Traverse City. We had earthmovers
contour the land and put in rings. I was out there digging gardens
and showing them where to plant all this grass. Then we had
a drought. That frst show I spent all night, every night, going
around with a tank of water and a pump to make sure nothing
died. It was all pretty special.”
It continues to be. Flintfelds, a homestead in the 1800s, has
fourished under Karin’s watchful eye. She restored the barn and
house. The facility grew to four rings and a grand prix ring, each
with its own warm-up ring. The footing is sand and limestone in
the hunter rings; but the grand prix footing is state of the art with
an underground piping system to maintain consistent moisture.
“We started out with two weeks, and everyone kept saying, ‘if
we come this far, we want it to be longer.’ We get a lot of people
from Texas who like to get out of the heat and we increased the
show to four weeks,” said Karin. “We have two back-to-back rated
dressage shows before the hunter-jumper series starts. We’d
like to have a reining show in August. We’re looking into holding
weddings and we’d love to have a car show. Flintfelds is a perfect
setting, so green and so beautiful.”
One of the latest improvements to the 84 acre facility will make
sporting enthusiasts happy. Karin put in a fve acre grass feld that
can be used for polo, grand prix and derbies; but the roots need
another year to be at least seven inches deep so that the grass is
sturdy enough.
“The frst thing I did after the drought that frst year was put in
a sprinkler system,” said Karin, an avid gardener. “I dot every i
and cross every t. I make sure that everything is clean and neat,
frst class and safe for the competitors and horses. We can’t have
trash or junk – I like everything pretty. I go around in my golf cart,
checking on things. If I see a rock, I pick it up. I’m hands on.”
This works well with Alex, who is quick to acknowledge how
vital Karin is to Horse Sports By The Bay: “Without Karin, we
wouldn’t have a home and a place to grow the show. Sometimes
I say pinch me.”
The two women are very different in personality; but that’s
probably key to their success.
“Karin is always cheerful and she’s a great visionary, too,” said
Alex. “I’m almost too practical at times. We complement each
other. Karin’s so concerned about the horses’ welfare that she’s
out at 2 a.m. with her dogs, walking the grounds, checking on the
horses. It’s also therapeutic: Karin loves the sounds of horses
chomping on hay and loves to see them fat out and snoring. I’m
fast asleep because I get up at 5 a.m.”
The collaboration has been positive for all concerned. Traverse
City has beneftted greatly from the AA series, which has
contributed $81 million to local revenues since 2004. With each
day concluding around 5 o’clock, everyone has daylight until 10:30
p.m. to enjoy Traverse City. It’s a gem of a summer tourist town
with great restaurants and leisure activities, including the National
Cherry Festival and the International Film Festival.
“We have a nice working relationship with Acme Township and
Traverse City,” said Karin. “We help them, they help us. I’m the
cheerleader, the cock-eyed optimist. I enjoy everything about the
shows. I just love it.”
Karin Flint with Lexi (Corgi) and Tito (German Shepherd): these
CEOs (Canine Executive Offcers) help Karin when she makes
the rounds late at night to ensure that all is very well at Flintfelds
during Horse Shows By The Bay
Photo by Phelps Media Group