SBS Farms Rides to the Top of Camden Spring Classic’s Hunter Awards

Jennifer Alfano and Miss Lucy earned the third place prize during the $20,000 USHJA International Hunter Challenge Derby Classic. Photo By: ESI Photography

Camden, SC and Buffalo, NY – April 12, 2012 – SBS Farms moved into their spring calendar last week, rounding out their already phenomenal winter season with a series of wins at the Camden Spring Classic in Camden, SC. Professional rider Jennifer Alfano recently earned top finishes with mounts in the $50,000 Palm Beach USHJA International Hunter Derby, and securing the third place finish aboard Miss Lucy, and the fourth place prize with Jersey Boy in the $20,000 USHJA International Hunter Challenge Derby Classic.

Alfano had an exceptional week in Camden, starting out at the top of the Derby with Miss Lucy, owned by Helen Lenahan, holding the third place position. Jersey Boy followed close behind with Alfano’s expert navigation, and they held solid with consistent rounds eventually moving into the fourth place position.

“We had a great time at Camden as far as the show goes,” Alfano explained. “The course was nice; it rode really well and the horses were exceptional. We had a tough time with ourselves though. My back got hurt, and Jess, my head girl, got hurt so we were sort of a mess. We thought about going home, but the horses were great and everything else went so well that we decided to stay and finish it out.”

It was Rapunzel who seemed to steal the show. Owned by Karen Macdonald, the young mare has been training with Alfano and throughout the Winter Circuit. During the Camden Spring Classic, they trounced the competition in the First Year Green Working Hunter division. Both days, they rode to the top of the list, sweeping the over fences with their blue ribbon rides.

“Rapunzel was very good; she only gets better,” Alfano described. “She just started doing the First Years at the end of Ocala, and even though it is a new division for her, she went beautifully at Camden.”

SBS Farms also introduced their most recent addition to the stables during their time in South Carolina. Alfano purchased Looking Glass, a six-year-old Warmblood mare at the end of the HITS Circuit. She saw great success with the new mount as she earned the first and second place ribbons in the over fences. Alfano rode him the first day of the Pre-Green 3′ Hunters; however, Liza Boyd took over for day two as Alfano recuperated from the flaring up of her old injury.

“It was so exciting to see her get out there and go,” Alfano smiled. “I showed her the first day, and she was real green, she had never walked in the ring and shown before that moment. When Liza rode, it was so exciting to sit ringside and watch. It is really fun being an owner. She is such a trier, it’s what really drew me to her. She naturally is a really good jumper, and just wants to do everything the right way. She has a lot of potential.”

The SBS Farms team will take a short rest in the upcoming month, but May 2012 promises to be full of competitive fervor as they compete at the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows in Lexington, KY, from May 9-20, 2012. Soon after their time there, they will continue on to Devon, PA, for the 2012 Devon Horse Show and County Fair from May 24 – June 3, 2012.

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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