Jennifer Alfano, pictured here with Maggie May, rode top mounts to the pinnacle of the leader board during the HITS Ocala series. Photo By: Anne Gittins Photography.
Ocala, FL – March 19, 2013 – Jennifer Alfano and SBS Farms have had a very successful circuit in Ocala this year, winning multiple championships and blue ribbons. This trend continued this final week of circuit, where Alfano piloted Call Me to top placings in the First Year Green Hunters and the Hi-Low Hunters.
Displaying just how much their partnership has grown over the past few weeks, Call Me and Alfano, made a run for the reserve championship, just missing it by a few points. The six-year-old Bay gelding, owned by Susie Schoellkopf and SBS Farms, was in the top ribbons, capturing a blue ribbon and two second place ribbons. Call Me and Alfano also came in fifth in the last class of the division. Continuing their impressive performance, Alfano and Call Me walked away in second place in the Hi-Low Hunters.
Alfano also piloted Maggie May in the First Year Green Hunters. Maggie May, owned by Billie Steffee, has become a show ring veteran beneath the guidance of Alfano, and knows how to wow the judges. Displaying her consistency to the fences, Maggie May achieved the first place ribbon; the third place ribbon and completed the class with two fourth-place ribbons.
Rose Hill, who snatched the Performance 3’6″ Hunter Reserve Championship last week, claimed top placings in the final week of Ocala. Alfano and ‘Rosie,’ owned by Sharon O’Neill, beat out their competition this week to receive third and fourth place ribbons in the Performance Working 3’6″ Hunters.
“Ocala was a great circuit for us – lots of blues and lots of sales,” Schoellkopf explained. “We have always enjoyed the warm weather in Florida, and Ocala is a great start to our year.”
SBS Farms, Inc. will make their way to the Winter Equestrian Festival next week to participate in the Palm Beach Hunter Derby with several of their top mounts. Jersey Boy captured the victory in 2011, and last year took the third place finish. After WEF, the team at SBS will continue to the Camden Spring Classic, Kentucky Spring and then the Devon Horse Show.
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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