Jennifer Alfano and Jersey Boy Win $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby

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Jennifer Alfano and Jersey Boy have taken the USHJA International Hunter Derbies by storm this year, taking top ribbons in the prestigious events. Photo By: SportFot

Furnace, PA – July 3, 2012 – The 2012 State College Classic saw an overwhelming victory from SBS Farms, Inc. last week. Jennifer Alfano dominated the professional divisions with her top mounts, as well as securing the first place award in the $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby with the talented Jersey Boy. Luke Olsen caught the judges’ eyes in the equitation classes, earning the first place prize with Serenade in the Pessoa USEF Hunter Seat Medal. Jessica Liffin took the Low Junior/Amateur Hunter Reserve Championship aboard Imparco.

In the Regular Conformation Hunters, Danny Robertshaw’s Lions Paw with Alfano in the irons stole the show. Lions Paw was awarded the blue ribbon for his beautiful conformation in the Model. Alfano then guided the thoroughbred to the first and second place ribbons over fences, as well as the first place award in the under saddle. They eventually secured the division’s reserve championship honors. Alfano also exhibited Dragon, owned by Redfield Farm, to two second place finishes in the over fences and the handy round.

Rapunzel’s success continued in the Green Working/High Performance Hunters. The young mare has consistently put in solid rounds, and the State College Classic was no different. Owned by Karen Macdonald, the chestnut mare earned the second and third place ribbons in the over fences. Together, Alfano also guided her to the first place award in the under saddle.

It was the $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby that proved the most exciting for Alfano and Jersey Boy. Taking an early lead in the Derby, the pair proved unstoppable. They laid down beautiful rounds, including Jersey Boy’s forte, the handy round. At the end of the Derby, it was Alfano and Jersey Boy leading the victory gallop. Alfano also guided Miss Lucy to the second place finish, and exhibited Lions Paw in his first derby, riding him to the fifth place prize.

“I liked the course; I thought they did a nice job,” Alfano described. “The high options were high for sure, and even though it is a smaller show, they really make it special for everyone. Everyone was really nice, and they did a good job; it was a lot of fun.”

Alfano continued, “Jersey Boy did great as always, and Miss Lucy had great rounds, too. I was really excited about showing Lions Paw in the derby, and he did really well for his first time. He is such a neat horse, he really is; he is so much fun to ride. I knew he would be good in the derby because he isn’t spooky and he is so fun. They were all great and did really well.”

The success did not stop there for SBS Farms as Jessica Liffin took the Low Junior/Amateur Hunter Reserve Championship aboard Imparco, owned by Felice Drabkin. They nabbed the first, second and third place ribbons in the over fences, and also took home the third place prize for their efforts in the under saddle. Imparco also showed in the Pre-Green Hunters with Alfano, earning the second and third place prizes in the over fences, and also the third place ribbon in under saddle. Alfano also secured the blue ribbon in the Pre-Green Hunter over fences with one of her most recent mounts, Looking Glass.

Luke Olsen showed in numerous equitation classes, earning the first place awards in the Pessoa USEF Hunter Seat Medal and the Josey Mohler Equitation with Serenade, owned by SBS Farms’ trainer Susie Schoellkopf. Olsen also earned the red ribbon in the NHSAA/ASPCA Maclay. His success continued in the WIHS Medal, where aboard Dragon, he took the fourth place award in the jumper phase, and finished in the top eight of the class.

Olsen also competed in the Mt. Nittany Classic at Kocher Farm on July 2, 2012. He took the first place ribbon with Serenade in both the ASPCA Maclay and the Pessoa USEF Hunter Seat Medal. His blue ribbon finish in the Medal earned Olsen a qualifying spot in the USEF Medal Finals.

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.

Media Contact: Mason Phelps
Phelps Media Group, Inc. International
phone 561.753.3389  fax 561.753.3386
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com

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