Wellington, FL and Buffalo, NY – April 3, 2012 – The $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby got underway Saturday afternoon in the Stadium at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, FL. It was the first time a hunter event, and especially one of such prestige, was held on the grass venue. Jennifer Alfano and Jersey Boy stepped up to the challenge, emerging as the third place victors.
The event opened up with a competitive field of 54 horse and rider combinations, welcoming the best hunter riders across the nation to give it their all over the challenging hunt course designed by Bobby Murphy. The challenging course for the event consisted of four option fences, which included the final fence, a hedge jump set at 4’5″ on the highest side. Riders received an additional bonus point from each panel of judges for taking the higher options, which many of the top finishers opted to take. The course only included two oxers, but the horses jumped brilliantly, showcasing their immense talent over the course reminiscent to that of an actual hunt field.
Defending champions Alfano and Jersey Boy swept the judges away with their consistency and smooth first round, receiving scores of 89 and 90, as well as eight additional points for high options, earning a total score of 187 points. Their high score moved the talented duo into the second place position only four points behind Scott Stewart and Dedication. Alfano also rode Miss Lucy, owned by Helen Lenahan, to the score of 178 points, moving into the eighth spot and securing two positions in the top 25 as the derby progressed and the competition grew fierce.
“I didn’t really have a plan going into the round, I just sort of went for it,” Alfano explained. “I am extremely pleased with how it went for me, and Jersey Boy and Miss Lucy have been fantastic. I don’t really feel pressure with Jersey Boy just because at this point he honestly owes us nothing. He was a little spooky during the first round, but he always steps up in the handy.”
The Top 25 gathered at the Stadium on Sunday afternoon, and anticipation was high as riders vied for the esteemed honor of champion. It had begun to feel a bit like déjà vu for Alfano, remembering last year’s order of go as the second round began. “Scott had ridden Empire to the top score after the first round of last year’s Derby, and if Jersey Boy hadn’t had one of the best rounds of his life, there is a chance we would have been beat,” Alfano explained.
Alfano and Jersey Boy were sitting in the second place position after the first round of competition, and they had a solid second round trip to finish with a total of 386.5 points for third place. Alfano also rode Miss Lucy to the seventh place award with a score of 377 points. The course proved more challenging on the second day than Alfano had anticipated; however, both of her mounts kept their confidence as they navigated the hunt course. Alfano was able to pick up a strong pace, holding a gallop throughout the course and never having to break stride, she admitted that the course simply flowed.
“It was a lot of course,” Alfano laughed. “When I walked the course I was quite nervous of the bank, I kind of got worked up about it, but it was super fun to ride and both horses were fantastic, I couldn’t have asked for more from them.”
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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