Jennifer Alfano, head trainer of SBS Farms, Inc. based in Buffalo, New York, returned to her hometown of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, during senior week, October 16-21, at the prestigious Pennsylvania National Horse Show. There, she and her own Candid claimed the championship title in the High Performance Conformation Hunter section.
Alfano and "Sheldon" collected blue ribbons in two of the three over fences classes with scores of 88 and 90, and took second place in the other. The pair won the handy with a score of 89 and grabbed fourth-placed honors in the under saddle portion of competition as well as second place in the model class, earning them enough points to capture the tricolor ribbon.
"[Candid] was so good; I'm so excited," said Alfano. "I was a little nervous. Kristy [Herrera] has still been showing him quite a bit because I love watching her ride him. I've actually only shown him twice this summer, and I got nervous about it. Because he's my own horse, it makes it more special, but I also get nervous because he is my own. He was so, so good. It's always fun to come home. He loves it here."
In 2014, Alfano and the 9-year-old Holsteiner gelding also won the Green Conformation Hunter division championship as well as the Grand Hunter Championship title at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show.
Additional SBS Farms horses secured multiple top placings throughout the Pennsylvania National Horse Show with Alfano in the irons, including: Kindred, owned by Kathy Chiaf, in the Green 3' Hunter division; Talladega, owned by Sharon O'Neill, in the Green 3'3" Hunter division; and Girl Crush, owned by Susan Kimberly, in the Green 3'6" Hunter division.
Alfano and Chiaf's Kindred also claimed a top-10 finish in the competitive USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Stake, earning a score of 84.
The conclusion of the Pennsylvania National Horse Show marks the end of the 2017 competition season for SBS Farms. The team would like to thank all of its amazing clients, owners, sponsors, grooms and staff who have helped make 2017 a huge success!
Next, Susan Schoellkopf, owner of SBS Farms, will be heading to Lexington, Kentucky, to judge the National Horse Show held 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 to attend 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.