Fresh off his championship in the High Performance Conformation Hunter division just one week ago at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show, Candid, owned and shown by SBS Farms, Inc. head trainer Jennifer Alfano, traveled to the World Equestrian Center Invitational in Ohio. There, he added another championship win to his name in the Conformation 3'6"/3'9" Hunter section.
Alfano and the 9-year-old Holsteiner gelding, also known as "Sheldon" in the barn, clinched the tricolor after securing five blue ribbons and finishing in fourth place in the handy.
Five years ago Alfano purchased Candid for the USHJA Pre-Green Incentive Program. She saw a horse with the capacity to climb the ranks and become one of the industry's best. Together the pair have exceeded all expectations as he journeys up the hunter pipeline.
"Jennifer and Candid are a great team; it's so nice," said SBS Farms owner Susie Schoellkopf. "She has done all of the work on him and has brought him along from Pre-Green to now. I don't think there are many professionals who have done that, so it's a feather in her cap."
Alfano also rode Sharon O'Neill's Talladega and Susan Kimberly's Girl Crush to reserve championship wins in the Green 3'3" Hunter division and Performance 3'3" Hunter division, respectively.
O'Neill's Miss Lucy returned to the show ring in top form with Alfano once again as well, claiming two blue ribbons in the over fences and handy rounds of the High Performance Hunter division.
Next, Schoellkopf will be heading to Lexington, Kentucky, to judge the National Horse Show at the Kentucky Horse Park October 31-November 5, one of the most highly anticipated indoor horse shows of the year.
In addition, SBS Farms will be gearing up for the 28th annual George Morris clinic at the Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center November 10-12 while also preparing for the 2018 Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Florida.
Special thanks to Phelps Media Group, Inc. for the press release.