Alex Trolli and Del Piero captured the Antares Children’s 15-17 Hunter Championship, as well as the $500 Marshall and Sterling/NAL Children’s Hunter Classic.
Ocala, FL – February 25, 2014 – SBS Farms rode to the top of the HITS VI Ocala Masters leader board February 18-24. Rising star Alex Trolli took home both tricolors in the Antares Children’s 15-17 Hunters, riding Doreen Toben’s Del Piero and the Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center’s Lolito. Jennifer Alfano and her own Candid also rode to the pinnacle of the ranks in the Green Conformation Hunters, sweeping the over fences for the championship.
Trolli has been on a roll with Del Piero, snatching the championship for three consecutive weeks in the Antares Children’s 15-17 Hunters. The pair has proved unstoppable as they continue to build an impressive resume, adding the $500 Marshall and Sterling/NAL Children’s Hunter Classic win to their list of accolades.
“I went in with Del Piero and received the high score of 87, but luckily when I went into the second round I was able to work out some of the kinks with Lolito,” Trolli explained. “The nerves got to me a little bit with Lolito, but we were still able to post a nice round and we worked on making it through the two-stride nicely. Each of the rounds were overall really good. The course was straight forward, and nice and smooth. Del Piero was just perfect; he loves being able to show off.”
Together Trolli and Del Piero rode to the first and second place finishes over fences, as well as earning the third place for their efforts in the under saddle. During the $500 Marshall and Sterling/NAL Children’s Hunter Classic, Trolli guided Del Piero to a score of an 87, and returned in the second round to seal her victory with an 84-point score.
Success didn’t end aboard Del Piero as Trolli also nabbed the reserve championship in the division aboard Lolito. The 14-year-old German Warmblood has proven an asset in Trolli’s riding career.
“They are both very different rides,” Trolli said. “Lolito is very slow and has a short stride, while Del Piero has a super big stride. They are so different that I have to gage my strategy in the classes. Del Piero offers a little more variety. I have never really ridden any horses like them before.”
Trolli continued, “It has been great showing in Ocala. Alicia Heberle has helped to prepare me a lot for these classes. Susie [Schoellkopf] and Jen [Alfano] have been amazing support. I definitely wouldn’t have been able to do as well if I didn’t have the whole SBS team.”
Alfano and Candid also had a winning weekend, championing in the Green Conformation Hunter division amidst stiff competition. Alfano made a sweep of the division’s over fences, winning both rounds as well as the model. Candid also placed fourth in the hack to end up on top as the Green Conformation Hunter Champion for the week.
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.
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