Buffalo, NY – September 5, 2012 – As the time draws near to the 66th Annual Buffalo International Horse Show, the Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center has been filled with nothing short of anticipation and excitement. Riders gathered on August 24, 2012 for a three-day session horsemanship clinic with Melanie Smith Taylor and Mindy Bower. The clinic welcomed riders from beginner, intermediate and advanced levels, providing riders with opportunities to gain knowledge and further experience with their riding skills, as well as to extend their understanding of the horse itself.

The clinics’ goals revolved around the students becoming more complete in their knowledge of horsemanship both on the ground and mounted. Melanie Smith Taylor is a renowned rider, instructor and clinician. She has ridden to the bronze medal finish on the United States Olympic team, has won the World Cup finals, does the NBC commentary for the Olympic Games, and created the TaylorMade Horsemanship Foundation, which has started clinics throughout the country.

Mindy Bower is from Colorado and has been working with horses from the ground as well as on their on their back. She breaks colts from the very beginning. Bower helps people and horses feel safe and comfortable with each other both on the ground on their back. Dealing with attitude problems in horses is her strong suit. Mindy has worked with Buck Brannaman, Ray Hunt, Bill and Tom Dorrance for the past twenty years. Bower is part of the TaylorMade Horsemanship clinics with Taylor.

The 2012 Mindy Bower and Melanie Taylor Clinic consisted of 24 riders split into three groups of eight. Bower and Taylor worked in conjunction, teaching each group over the three-day duration. Bower worked with the riders for the first day, beginning with the basics of groundwork. For the consecutive two remaining days, Taylor and Bower worked in tandem to conduct two-hour sessions, giving constructive criticism with flat work and over fences.

Susan Schoellkopf offered the BTRC facility for the Emerging Athletes Program last year; however, she asked Bower and Taylor to return to the BTRC for a 2012 clinic where she could offer their expertise for interested parties. “Melanie is the ultimate horsewoman. She teaches so well and works with individual problems combining horse and rider. She and Mindy have worked out a system of great horsemanship. Mindy’s groundwork is so important to good riding.”

The clinic came at the perfect time to prepare riders for the readily approaching Buffalo International Horse Show held from September 12-16, 2012. The show will take place in the indoor arena of the Buffalo Equestrian Center, the home of the Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center (BTRC) and SBS Farms, Inc. The Buffalo International Horse Show (BIHS) is known for its large variety of hunter and jumper divisions, including their great prize money and promising competition. The BIHS is the most prominent fundraiser of the year for the BTRC, with all proceeds benefiting their therapeutic riding program. The prize list is now available on Ryegate.com.

The five-day schedule features highlights for everyone to enjoy, including $25,000 in class prize money with $13,000 worth of hunter and jumper classics for children, adults, juniors, amateur-owners, ponies and professionals.

Operating out of Buffalo, New York, BTRC is a non-profit organization that promotes and teaches horseback riding – noted for its social and therapeutic benefits – to disadvantaged and emotionally challenged children. Since 1990, the center has provided the experience of riding and caring for horses to children with a variety of disabilities. The program has expanded steadily and currently serves more than 170 children annually.

The Buffalo International Horse Show is expecting a record number of entries, so make sure to submit your entry forms as soon as possible. This is a can’t miss show, whether you are preparing for the Indoor circuit and Zone finals, or to cheer on your friends and family, the BTRC welcomes you to their home and wishes you a fun and successful show.

For more information regarding the 66th Annual Buffalo International Horse Show, please visit www.thebtrc.org or call (716) 877-9295. Entries may be faxed to (716) 877-4001.

66th ANNUAL BUFFALO INTERNATIONAL HORSE SHOW FAST FACTS:

EVENT: 66th Annual Buffalo International Horse Show, which benefits the Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center.

WHAT: Buffalo’s most prestigious horse show. The ‘AA’ rated show is one of the best ways for exhibitors to prepare themselves and their horses for the fall indoor circuit of finals. BIHS offers a large indoor arena for competition that gives horses and riders a chance to compete indoors before showing at the national finals in Pennsylvania, Washington D.C. or Kentucky. The horse show offers generous prize money in every division.

Sanctioned and recognized by: United States Equestrian Federation, Rated ‘AA’ Hunter and 2* Jumper; Syracuse Professional Horsemen’s Association; Ohio PHA; WPPHA. The show is great for equestrians to use in preparation for the fall indoor circuit and zone finals.

WHERE: Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center, 950 Amherst Street, Buffalo, NY 14216

WHEN: September 12-16, 2012

HIGHLIGHTS: The Buffalo International Horse Show benefits the Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center, and is one of the largest fundraisers for the program.

THURSDAY:
$1,000 Ravenswood Groom’s Class

FRIDAY:
$1,000 “The Full Monty” Amateur-Owner Hunter Classic
$500 “Shogun” Adult Hunter Classic

FRIDAY NIGHT (not before 6 p.m.)
$1,000 Johnson Horse Transportation Silver Stirrup Classic – 2’6″

SATURDAY:
$500 “Scribbles” Pony Hunter Classic

SATURDAY NIGHT (not before 6 p.m.):
$3,000 Johnson Horse Transportation USHJA National Hunter Derby
$2,500 Stephen Comunale Children’s/Adult Jumper Classic
$1,000 Stephen Comunale Low Children’s/Adult Jumper Classic

SUNDAY:
$1,000 Up The Creek Junior Hunter Classic
$500 “Say Hey” Children’s Hunter Classic

ADMISSION: Free for spectators, except for Friday and Saturday night events, where admission is $5 for adults, and children 10 and under are free.

PARKING: Free on Amherst Street, on the grass on Great Arrow street, or in the school parking lot on Great Arrow.

VIP SEATING: Blue Carpet Club and Box Seating are available. The Blue Carpet Club offers tables overlooking the ring from the balcony. Only six tables are available, so please make reservations early. Tables are $200 for a table of six for Friday or Saturday night, and $375 for both Friday and Saturday night combined. Box seats offer the most superior seating choice available; the closest to the action ringside. Box seats are $500 for Wednesday – Sunday Afternoon until 4 pm. All Boxes include seating for six. Payment and order forms should be sent to: BIHS Attention: Blue Carpet Club and Box Seating, 950 Amherst Street, Buffalo, NY, 14216.

VENDOR/TRADE: Champion awards are sponsored by EMO Insurance. Prizes for reserve champions are donated by The Hunting Horn of Penfield, NY, who is also the vendor for the horse show. Ribbons have been donated by HSBC Bank USA.

DIRECTIONS: From NY thruway/I-90, it is only 10 minutes to the horse show facility. From I-90, take Rt 33 West. Follow to NY-198 East/Scajaquada Expressway West. Follow 198 until the Route 384 North/Delaware Ave exit. At the stop light, turn right and immediately turn left at the next light, which puts you on Delaware Ave. Follow Delaware Ave. until Amherst Street. Turn left on Amherst Street, travel less 200 feet, and the Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center is on the right.

THE FACILITY: The Buffalo Saddle and Bridle Club was built in 1921 as an indoor polo arena. Today it is known as The Buffalo Equestrian Center (BEC) and features one of the largest indoor riding arenas in the nation. Located at 950 Amherst Street, in the heart of metropolitan Buffalo, it is now the home of The Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center Inc., The Buffalo Equestrian Center and SBS Farms, Inc. The five-acre site includes the indoor sand 120×90 riding arena, stables, paddocks and an outdoor riding ring. The spectacular barn offers permanent stalls for all horse show participants.

The Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center has been the site of a therapeutic riding program for seven years. The BTRC currently offers programs for mentally and emotionally impaired, learning disabled and developmentally challenged children ages 6 to 16. Programs are designed and taught by Libby McNabb, an instructor registered with the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association, Inc. (NARHA) and with Special Olympics. Volunteers are always needed and are an invaluable part of the program. They can assist with horse care and handling or can serve as a friend and side walker. For more information, please call (716) 877-9295.

The Buffalo Equestrian Center is part of The Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center. They continue the tradition of the Saddle and Bridle club, giving lessons to kids starting at age six through adult ages. The BEC holds clinics with Jennifer Alfano, hosts a summer camp, and is now a member of the IEA (Interscholastic Equestrian Association), where members of area middle schools and area high schools compete as a team at IEA shows in New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Lessons are given all year Tuesday through Sunday.

SBS Farms is also part of The BTRC, and Susan Schoellkopf is the owner. Susie serves as chairman of the Zone 2 committee, the chairman of the Open Hunter Task Force, she is a member of the Junior Hunter Task Force and the D&M committee. Susie is also an “R” rated hunter judge. Jennifer Alfano is the trainer for SBS. She is a two time World Hunter Rider Champion, she has won the International Hunter Derby Series for the past two years aboard Jersey Boy, and has won several USEF Horse of the Year awards. Jennifer has trained top amateur, junior and pony riders.

CONTACT:
Buffalo International Horse Show
950 Amherst St.
Buffalo, NY 14216
716-877-9295 (phone)
716-877-4001 (fax)
sbeat@aol.com
www.thebtrc.org
www.ryegate.com/BTRC/index.htm

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