Buffalo, N.Y. – Sept. 21, 2017 – The SBS Farms, Inc. team had an outstanding showing at the 71st annual Buffalo International Horse Show (BIHS), which benefited the Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center (BTRC). The show, honored with the prestigious ‘Heritage’ designation by US Equestrian, is the largest fundraiser of the year for the BTRC, raising crucial funds for the therapeutic program. The BTRC positively impacts many lives, and SBS Farms is pleased to support and contribute to the event’s success each year.
SBS Farms’ Stardust and head trainer Jennifer Alfano were an unstoppable force at the 2017 BIHS. They claimed the victory in the competitive $5,000 Johnson Horse Transportation USHJA National Hunter Derby on Saturday evening, executing flawless performances over two rounds of competition.
In addition to an exciting victory in the $5,000 Johnson Horse Transportation USHJA National Hunter Derby, Stardust and Alfano also won the $1,500 USHJA 3’/3’3″ Green Incentive on Thursday and were named champion in the Green 3’3″ Hunter division. At the conclusion of competition on Sunday, Alfano and Stardust were awarded the Roses Are Red Grand Hunter Challenge Trophy for their winning efforts.
Alfano also captured the second place prize in the derby with Kathy Chiaf’s Silver Lining. In Thursday’s $1,500 USHJA 3’/3’3″ Green Incentive, Alfano rode Sharon O’Neill’s Talladega to second place, while Chiaf rode her own Kindred to round out the top three.
Alfano and Susan Kimberly’s Girl Crush, who was honored with the Courier Express Trophy following Sunday’s competition, were crowned champion in the Green 3’6″/3’9″ Hunter division. Alfano also took home the reserve championship in the division with Silver Lining.
In addition, Chiaf rode Kindred to a championship win in the Green 3′ Hunter division over the weekend. Crisp, owned by the Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center, claimed multiple division championships throughout the show as well. With rider Emma Walters, Crisp was named the Junior 3’3″ Hunter champion and secured the Performance 3’3″/3’6″ Hunter championship with Alfano.
In the Pre-Adult 2’6″ Hunter division, Mary Trincanati rode the Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center’s Abundance to the championship tricolor, while Molly Gfroerer and the Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center’s Churchill clinched the championship in the Pre-Children’s 2’6″ Hunter division.
Also collecting a blue ribbon at the BIHS was Randi Byrd, representing SBS Farms, who took home first place in the $1,000 Phelps Media Group Grooms Class that followed competition on Thursday.
With the 2017 BIHS now in the rear view mirror, SBS Farms horses and riders are prepared and ready to take on the upcoming indoor show season.
“All of the customers had a great show,” said SBS Farms owner and executive director of the BTRC, Susan Schoellkopf. “People are really talking about Stardust. He really is a very special horse. Molly [Gfroerer] stepped up from ponies and competed on a horse for the first time last week and was champion in the Pre-Children’s 2’6″ Hunters so we’re very proud of her as well as Emma Walters and Crisp on their Junior 3’3″ Hunter championship. Girl Crush also performed beautifully and Kathy [Chiaf] and her horses were all great. All of our horses and riders had a great show and love it here. We’re ready for indoors and we’re ready for Central Park this weekend!”
The SBS Farms team will continue on with their fall competition schedule, traveling next to the Rolex Central Park Horse Show, where Alfano and O’Neill’s Miss Lucy and Kristy Herrera and Emily Cherney’s Kensi will compete in the $50,000 Duchossios Cup on Saturday, Sept. 23.
SBS Farms, Inc. continues the proud tradition of the Buffalo Saddle and Bridle Club as one of the top show stables in the Northeast. Located in Buffalo, New York, Susan Schoellkopf is 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, please visit www.sbsfarms.com. For more information on the Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center, please visit www.thebtrc.org.
