Buffalo, NY – November 8, 2012 – After an extended amount of time to recuperate from a busy summer season, Jennifer Alfano and top mounts Miss Lucy and Jersey Boy returned to the ring for the Indoor circuit. SBS Farms recently returned home after a great week of competition at the Washington International Horse Show and the Alltech National Horse Show. Alfano and Miss Lucy put on their game face as the scored top ribbons throughout both shows, earning the High Performance Hunter Championship at the Alltech National Horse Show, 129th edition.
The Alltech National Horse Show took place at the picturesque Kentucky Horse Park at the Alltech Arena, the host to the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. The show ran from October 30 – November 4, 2012. The event saw some of the most talented riders in the horse sport vying for the winning honors in their respective hunter divisions, but professional rider Jennifer Alfano rode to the top of the leader board with Helen Lenahan’s Miss Lucy.
During the High Performance Hunters, Alfano showed the chestnut mare to two first place ribbons over fences and the third place ribbon in the under saddle. In the stake round, Miss Lucy outshone all her fellow contenders. She was dually awarded the first place finish for the beautifully executed round.
“She was unbelievable out there,” Alfano remarked. “She jumped out of her skin. I knew she was on; she has been unbelievable all through Indoors. The longer I have her the better she gets.”
Alfano also rode Jersey Boy to good ribbons throughout the course of the division, but she admitted that it was Miss Lucy’s day to shine. Jersey Boy was presented with the second place finish in the handy round. “This year we just sort of pick and choose which shows we wanted to do, and I think that really pays off. By not doing all of them, they were fresh and happy. Both of them are happy to be showing, and I think it really shows in the ring.”
The Regular Conformation Hunter division welcomed Alfano to the ring with Timber Ridge, owned by Shane George. The Alltech National Horse Show was the first time the pair had been connected for competition. Even as a new horse and rider combination, Alfano guided the gelding to the third place in the Regular Conformation Model, the second place in the handy, the fourth place finish in the under saddle and the second place award in the stake.
The week prior to the Alltech National Horse Show, Alfano returned to the hunter action with Jersey Boy and Miss Lucy at the Washington International Horse Show. Neither Miss Lucy nor Jersey Boy attended the Capital Challenge Horse Show or Pennsylvania National Horse Show this year. The team at SBS Farms decided that the two horses would have some time to recuperate after the Chicago Hunter Derby in September where Jersey Boy and Miss Lucy placed first and second, respectively.
At the Washington International Horse Show, Miss Lucy was awarded the third place finish in the High Performance Hunter over fences on the first day, along with the top finish in the handy round. Miss Lucy was also presented with the third place ribbon for an exceptional handy round, using the ring to their advantage as the pair showcased their handiness and athleticism over the course.
Jersey Boy was also presented with good ribbons at the Washington International Horse Show. The pair rode to the fourth place finish behind Miss Lucy during the High Performance Hunter Stake class. Jersey Boy executed the courses beautifully, coming back fresh and taking the second place in the handy class, as well as the fourth place in the 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.
Kendall Bierer for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International
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