Lexington, KY – June 17, 2013 – With the Kentucky Summer Series right around the corner, SBS Farms, Inc. is taking no time away from the ring as they prepare for a competitive summer circuit. Professional rider and trainer Jennifer Alfano shined during the Country Heir Horse Shows. The Kentucky Horse Park was alive with hunter action during the two weeks of shows, but it was Alfano who stole the attention, taking the Pre-Green 3′ Hunter Championship with her own mount, Candid during WCHR week.
In the Pre-Green 3′ Hunter division, Alfano piloted Candid to a clean sweep. She took home the tricolor with Candid, and also picked up several good ribbons aboard Romance. The dynamic duo of Alfano and Candid also made their mark during the $1,000 USHJA Pre-Green Hunter Incentive.Candid is the exemplary Pre-Green Incentive Program horse, acting as an example of the time and dedication that goes into encouraging the development of pre-green horses. They beat 26 entrants in the stake class, rising to the top with their winning round.
Riding for Colleen McQuay, Alfano took the irons aboard Czechers, owned by Cindy I. Jones. During the Performance 3’3″ Hunters, the pair earned the second and two third place ribbons over fences during Country Heir I and II.
Alfano continued to show her winning ways in the $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby. She navigated Czechers to the second place finish overall. She also rode to a top 10 finish during the $30,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby with Rose Hill, owned by Sharon O’Neill.
Aboard Brent, owned by Bernadette Mulliken, Alfano nabbed the top ribbons during the Pre-Green 3′ Hunters. They rode to the top of the leader board with the first and second place over fences, as well as the fourth place ribbon in the under saddle. Brent also caught the judges’ eyes in the Low Hunters where he snatched up the blue ribbon for a strong round over fences.
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. SBS Farms, Inc. continues the proud tradition of the Saddle and Bridle Club as one of the top show stables in the northeast. Schoellkopf is also the Executive Director of the Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center, which houses both The Buffalo Equestrian Center as well as SBS Farms. Built in 1922, the 160-stall facility is a historical landmark, with its unique English Tudor and gothic style architecture. For more information on SBS Farms and the Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center, please visit www.thebtrc.org.
Photo Credit: Jennifer Alfano and Candid swept the Pre-Green 3′ Hunter division at the Country Heir Horse Shows in Lexington, Kentucky. Photo By: Anne Gittins. This photo many only be used in relation to this Phelps Media Group press release.