To kick off the winter circuit, SBS Farms' competitors and horses made the journey from Buffalo, New York, to HITS Ocala in central Florida. The team had a successful first week and the coming weeks are likely to see numerous tricolor ribbons for this impressive group of riders.
SBS Farms Assistant Trainer Alicia Heberle has taken over the reins for Jennifer Alfano, assuming the riding duties until Alfano is back in action after an injury last season, and has been doing a fantastic job. During the HITS Ocala January Festival II, Heberle and Kathy Chiaf's Silver Lining had a fantastic first outing as a pair and claimed the reserve championship in the 3'3" Performance Working Hunter section.
"Silver Lining is all-in-all a very solid horse—he's really brave," Heberle said. "He will do the First Year Green section next week and then his owner will show him a bit later in the season."
Heberle also found success with Jennifer Alfano's Kensi, placing fifth in a large 3'6" Green Hunter class.
SBS Farms' clients also had a strong start to the Florida season. Michael Williamson piloted David Steffee's Maggie May to a championship ribbon in the combined Junior Hunter section. Another pair to watch this season, Alex Trolli and her own Del Piero marked their first trip to the show ring since the 2015 National Horse Show with a second-placed finish in the Adult Amateur Hunter, 18-35, section and a third-placed finish in the Adult Hunter Classic.
Based out of Buffalo, New York, SBS Farms, Inc.'s Susie Schoellkopf and Jennifer Alfano run one of the foremost show hunter training operations in the country, and travel nationwide to compete in the 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, Inc. Built in 1922, the 160-stall facility is a historical landmark, with its unique English Tudor and Gothic-style architecture.
For more information on the Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center, please visit www.thebtrc.org.
Jennifer Alfano has returned to the saddle!