Written by: Kendall Bierer
Client: SBS Farms, Ltd.
Release Date: 2011-11-09
Buffalo, NY – November 8, 2011 – SBS Farms returned home after a great week of competition at the esteemed Alltech National Horse Show, 128th Edition held in Lexington, KY, from November 2-6.
The event saw some of the most talented riders of the industry vying for the winning honors in their respective hunter divisions. Professional rider and trainer Jennifer Alfano garnered several top honors aboard her talented mounts during the competition.
Alfano showed Rose Hill, owned by Sharon O’Neill, in the First Year Green Working Hunter division. The duo successfully earned the fourth place ribbon over fences during their first day, as well as picking up the third place honors for their efforts in the stake class. Alfano has been working with the six-year-old mare for the past two years, beginning in the Pre-Green Hunters and working together into the First Year Greens.
“Rosie was excellent, she’s an exceptional horse. I was really proud of how well she reacted to the ring, it turns out that she was the perfect horse to take there. Some of the other horses competing were a little spooky, but she did her best, didn’t get star-struck, and was definitely an easy horse to compete with,” Alfano explained. “Rosie has been real consistent all through indoors, she has become so reliable during our time together, and I am really happy with the way she has come along.”
Riding to the top of the leaderboard during the Second Year Green Working Hunter Stake, Alfano and Miss Lucy, owned by Helen Lenahan, took home the blue ribbon prize. The duo executed a smooth and consistent round, commanding the lead from the beginning of their round. Their neat turns and forward pace caught the judges’ attention and earned them the top prize. The pair also earned the fourth place award over fences in the division as well as the seventh place ribbon for their efforts in the under saddle.
“Miss Lucy was great at the Alltech National Horse Show, she was a little fresh the first day, but she jumped so well the entire week,” Alfano continued. “She really shined during the stake class, and I was so proud of how well she did during our stay.”
The awards did not stop there as Alfano entered the ring with SBS Farms’ Jersey Boy for the High Performance Hunters. The duo has earned numerous accolades during their time together, and the first day of competition was no different. Jersey Boy successfully earned the third place honors during the handy, showcasing his athleticism and abilities with Alfano in the irons. The nine-year-old Hanoverian gelding also garnered the second place honors during the stake class with the high score of 87 points.
“Jersey Boy is such a fantastic horse, he was a really good boy out there. All of my horses were so well behaved and did such a great job. I think that this last week was the perfect ending to a great Indoor circuit and a wonderful way to wrap-up the year,” Alfano concluded.
Based out of Buffalo, NY, SBS Farms’ Susie Schoellkopf and Jennifer Alfano run one of the foremost show hunter training operations in the country, and travel nationwide to compete in the nation’s most prestigious horse shows. Adding to their numerous accolades, Schoellkopf and Alfano both recently received prestigious awards; Schoellkopf was presented with the USHJA Presidents Distinguished Service Award, while Alfano was the highest grossing Hunter Rider in the country, as she earned over $400,000 last year.
For more information on SBS Farms, please visit www.thebtrc.org.
Photo Credit: Miss Lucy and Jennifer Alfano won the Second Year Green Working Hunter Stake class at the Alltech National Horse Show. Photo By: Rebecca Walton/PMG. Photograph may be used only in relation to this PMG press release.