The Great Lakes Sports Commission’s partnership with Traverse City Horse Shows has helped position Flintfields Horse Park as one of northern Michigan’s most significant international sports destinations.
GLSC awarded Traverse City Horse Shows a $250,000 grant in 2020 to help move and expand the American Gold Cup at Flintfields. The investment supported the transition of the historic competition from New York to northern Michigan, extended the event and created room for additional classes and styles of equestrian competition.
A platform for continued growth
Since that foundational investment, Traverse City Horse Shows has continued to attract elite riders, Olympic-level talent, horses, owners and spectators from across the country and around the world. GLSC remains a partner as the organization builds a season of premier competition that includes the Traverse City Spring Series, the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival and the Tournament of Champions.
The 2026 season spans multiple months at Flintfields Horse Park in Williamsburg. Its September schedule includes Major League Show Jumping and the American Gold Cup’s Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Qualifier, bringing international attention to the Grand Traverse region.
Impact beyond the show ring
Destination equestrian events generate extended stays and sustained visitor activity. Competitors and their support teams require lodging, dining, transportation and services throughout the season, while spectators and community programming broaden the event’s local reach.
Traverse City Horse Shows also uses its platform to support northern Michigan nonprofits through its Charity Ticket Program. The combination of elite competition, tourism activity and community giving exemplifies the type of long-term regional impact GLSC seeks to advance through strategic sports investment.