Jennifer Alfano and Miss Lucy
SBS Farms Head Trainer Jennifer Alfano made a remarkable comeback at the Chagrin Hunter Jumper Classic in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, after an injury sidelined her since mid-2016.
Alfano claimed the top two spots in the competitive USHJA International Hunter Derby — First place with Sharon O’Neill’s Miss Lucy and second with SBS Farms’ Jersey Boy. For Jersey Boy, it was also a triumphant return to the International Hunter Derby arena after being absent from it for two years. Alfano also guided her own Candid to fifth place for an impressive day back in the ring.
"It was really exciting," Alfano said. "I hadn't done a derby in over a year, so it was pretty exciting to be able to do it again and the horse were incredible. Overall it was a great day."
SBS Farms’ performance horses took home numerous championships and placings at the Chagrin Hunter Jumper Classic as well. Candid came out on top as champion in the Conformation division, Girl Crush took home the championship title in the 3’6” Green Hunters, and Kathy Chiaf’s Kindred was champion in the 3’ Green Hunter section.
Samantha Hurley’s Silver Icing took numerous ribbons in the Small/Medium Children’s Pony classes with rider Molly Gfroerer and finished the week with championship honors.
Zoe Schaab and Lucky Charm, owned by the Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center, had an exciting championship win in the Children’s Large Pony division. Emma Walters rode Alex Trolli’s Del Piero to the championship in the Children’s Hunter, 15-17, section, and the Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center’s Crisp to the reserve championship. Sydney Steffee and Green Ivy also had several high placings in Children’s classes.
The Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center’s performance horses also took the top two placings in the Low Adult Hunter section, with the championship ribbon for Manolo and rider Stephanie Brennan, and the reserve championship for Rose Hill and Kathryn Crawford. Peron took home a win and several other high placings with rider Christine Ruh.
This same weekend West of the Mississippi River, SBS Farms’ Kathy Chiaf and her own Sweetwater made SBS Farms proud at the Greater Oklahoma Hunter Jumper Horse Show. Chiaf and her mount were not only on the winning Zone 7 Adult Amateur Hunter team, but they also claimed the individual Adult Amateur Hunter gold medal.
Kathy Chiaf and Sweetwater
The Adult Amateur Individual competition saw 12 riders go head-to-head on the final day of competition, with the top-three riders each taking all of the high options to earn extra bonus points.
Chiaf, of Edmond, Oklahoma, earned a total of 390 points aboard her own Sweetwater from the Under Saddle, Derby Course and Handy Course to earn the gold medal.
"It was awesome," said Chiaf of the Championship. "It's just fun getting to do a special competition other than the basic hunter classes and to get to do a handy."