June Traverse City

Do you think that the June Traverse City Horseshows are really going to happen? Michigan hasn’t even started opening.

Following. I’m in MI and agree it seems like a long shot, but have my fingers crossed. There is minimal risk there right now (Northern MI has had very few cases, Detroit is like its own state and even that has settled down) BUT the issue will be if the state wants other people traveling in. The Cherry Festival was cancelled. I have my fingers crossed but I think they won’t know until the state decides. I do think the polo players are playing, and KY is opening the tracks so that seems promising.

Myself and a few others that are supposed to be attending think it’s going to be a no go.

My guess is the show will run but the town itself will still be sudo on lock down. So going would depend on how far one has to travel, where they plan on staying, and if they are making that show also a vacation.

I honestly don’t think June or July will happen for Traverse City. There are several interesting articles to look at: https://www.detroitnews.com/story/ne…an/3085804001/ which mentions Traverse by saying "In the Upper Peninsula — its own proposed region — there are 96 total cases, which translates to one confirmed COVID-19 case for each 3,136 residents. In the “Traverse City Region” there’s one confirmed case for each 1,035 residents.

Still, two counties in the “Traverse City Region” are among the top 10 in Michigan for per-capita coronavirus cases: Crawford and Otsego."

Additionally, MI is on 100% SAH order until end of May as of now and that governor is probably going to be the toughest one of them all. Here is a detailed opening plan she released last Thursday: https://www.detroitnews.com/story/ne…28/3090683001/ I can’t imagine horse showing will be prior to phase 5, and she could still extend the SAH order longer - and even if they did it in Phase 4, who is going to want to be there with 0 things open (restaurants, shopping, etc.)? It won’t be worth it for amateurs IMHO. If you’re Beezie, maybe ha!

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They also canceled their film festival in Traverse during the month of August this week…

You have an armed militia gathering in your capital threatening the life of your governor and you’re worried about a horse show? lol. Ok.

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I try not to pay attention to the crazies lol. I just cringe and carry on.

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Yeah, we have much bigger concerns here. It’s a little embarrassing to see things like horse shows feeling the need to start again as soon as legally possible. This really isn’t the stuff that needs to open up first.

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Since outdoor sports are open and Traverse City is officially permitted to reopen retail and restaurants but practice social distancing… I’d say I think there’s a chance!

Some of us rely on horse shows for our income.

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Primary or partial? There are a lot of people having to find different types of work in the world because their “source of income” isn’t possible. I think most will figure it out and just remember, nearly everyone in the world has taken a “pay cut” of some sort.

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I have a stall for the first week, my understanding is it’s a go. They have specifically stated on their fb page that the rumors it might not go are false… fingers crossed! I’m just going to ride my baby horse around and get him used to the show scene.

Ah yes, we here in the northwest were one of the first regions to start the slow reopening. The Governor just allowed us to move into Phase 5 - salons, theaters, etc. So pretty much most businesses are now allowed to open. Gatherings larger than 10 are now allowed too.

Wisely, many of the businesses are choosing not to rush it. Many restaurants have remained curb-side only or even closed altogether. Both the Cherry Festival (early July) and the Film Festival (August) have cancelled along with just about every other major event in the region. At least they care about their employees, volunteers, visitors, and local supporters. GLEF, I guess not so much. It has really tainted my view of that whole operation and the truly non-essential “recreation” to be found at one of their big sponsors, the casino.

Memorial Day traffic from out of state and the reopening of the casinos in the area have been the source of a spike in new cases in an area that up until now was actually relatively untouched - thanks folks. As much as I am not opposed to horse shows, this is just not the year to hold (or expand, as the case may be) this large an event.

Please folks, think beyond your own self, stay home, and come enjoy safely a year from now. to those that have already made the decision to stay home THANK YOU! Your consideration for our small community is appreciated by many more people than you will hear from here.

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Does anyone know how the show is going? Are people wearing masks and following USEF rules, or is it the wild, wild west???

Is your area one that is seeing a resurgence of Covid cases?

Yes, we are. It started with Memorial Day weekend and has accelerated from there. Just this week 2 restaurants/bars that had reopened have stepped back and closed for deep cleaning after employees tested positive. Two cases have been verified on incoming airline flights from Florida and Arizona. (Not that I will be flying anytime soon, but Alegient will be on my “no fly list.”) Half a dozen wineries have been noted as possible exposure spots and there are several more random places and confirmed cases. Almost all have been traced to people coming here from out of the area/out of state. (And thanks folks, apparently according to the news, a few knew they didn’t feel well and came here anyhow.)

Those may not seem like big numbers, but that virtually doubles the cases we had up until the holiday. All are within 20 miles of where I live. I haven’t heard any directly attributable to the horse show at this point, but it is within 30 miles of me and is mainly served (lodging, food, airport, etc) by the same small city that all this has centered around. We need to keep this city healthy. It is where all our major services are based - medical, grocery, feed stores, auto repair; both essential and entertainment, you name it.

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We went to The Waterloo Hunt Club USEF dressage show in MI two weeks ago. We all wore masks (and the TD was on anyone who didn’t). We had a great time and are going back next week. It is kind of challenging to find a place to eat for dinner, though. Many places aren’t open, but we had enough food to be fine if we couldn’t eat out. We did find a place both nights after some trial and error.

it was really nice to be back, and also to have a quiet show for my filly’s first horse show. She was a rock star with 3 scores over 70%!

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And based on the images being shared of traffic heading across the bridge to the UP today, I have to assume Traverse City is also being inundated with tourists this weekend.

I was at TC weeks 1 & 2. They have done a great job. Week one they were just checking temps of workers but by week 2 everyone was temp checked driving in. Everyone was masked up if they were away from their barn, and there were people kindly but diligently making sure everyone wore masks by the ring, particularly riders as they got off their horses. I felt like it was really well done and didn’t take anything away from the show.

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