Jennifer Alfano exhibited her brilliant winning style once again with stellar performances aboard her many mounts during the Equifest I Horse Show held at the Lamplight Equestrian Center last week. SBS Farms, Inc. and Alfano dominated in the hunter rings, adding blue ribbons and championship titles to what has already been a standout competitive season. Making the trek from Buffalo, NY, was no small obstacle, but Alfano and a string of talented SBS horses made the journey safely and arrived in Illinois ready to take on all competitors. Riding four different horses in the $1,000 USHJA Pre Green Incentive Stake, Alfano was certainly busy, but she left no room for the competition to take the edge, dominating the leaderboard. She claimed the blue ribbon on Chances R, owned by Sharon O’Neill, took second on Social Hill, owned by SBS Farms, then continued to sweep with a third on Me Again, owned by Helen Lenahan, and captured the fourth on Brent, owned by Bernadette Mulliken. Alfano left the class with a rainbow of top ribbons. Alfano also jumped away with more titles, claiming champion and reserve champion in the Pre-Green 3’ Hunters aboard Chances R and Social Hill, respectively. Alfano’s ability for encouraging each horse to perform their best was on display at Lamplight as she claimed multiple spots at the top of the leader board in a variety of classes. Adding 3 inches didn’t faze the levelheaded Alfano who came out ready to win in the Pre-Green 3’3” Hunters. Aboard Brent, Alfano confidently rode to the championship title and claimed the reserve championship honors with Me Again. Alfano and Me Again also nabbed the USHJA National Hunter Derby victory. The heights only raised as Alfano continued her winning ways. She soared to the top of the rankings with Corasonne to take the Performance 3’6” Hunter Championship. Taking to the ring for the Green Working Hunters with Maggie May, owned by Billie Steffee, Alfano showcased the mare at her best and was rewarded with the reserve championship. Then Alfano, with her own horse, Candid, took the championship in the Green Conformation Hunters. Bernadette Mulliken rode to titles in the Amateur-Owner classes as well, guiding her horse Corasonne to the championship title for the Amateur-Owner 3’3” Hunters, and showing off her horse Brent, for the reserve tricolor in the Amateur-Owner 3’3” Hunters. SBS Farms and Alfano acquired a plethora of colorful ribbons and were honored with well-deserved championship titles. They will continue to show at the Lamplight Equestrian Center for Equifest II before heading to Kentucky for the 2014 USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship. 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.
