Jennifer Alfano and Stardust topped the $5,000 Johnson Horse Transportation USHJA National Hunter Derby. The class was a featured event of the 71st annual Buffalo International Horse Show (BIHS), September 13-17 in Buffalo, New York.
Hunter derby competition kicked off on Saturday evening, where SBS Farms, Inc.'s own Alfano and Stardust claimed the victory. Alfano continued to impress the judges to take home second place in the class with Kathy Chiaf's Silver Lining, while Jennifer Gurney rode her own Gianni to a third-placed finish.
Emma Kurtz and Rebekah Warren's Enticement took home the blue in the $1,000 Up The Creek Farm Junior 3'3"/3'6" Hunter Classic earlier in the day on Saturday. Emma Walters and Crisp, owned by the Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center (BTRC), finished in second place and Jenna Drago and Peter Pletcher's Sandriano finished third in the class.
The competitive Junior 3'3" Hunter division also kicked off on Saturday with Walters claiming first place with Alex Trolli's Del Piero and second place with Crisp in the first over fences class. The talented young rider stayed consistent in the second round of over fences competition, taking home the blue with Crisp and second place with Del Piero, setting herself up nicely to earn the championship with either of her two mounts on Sunday.
In the $500 "Shogun" Adult Amateur Hunter Classic, Clare Karlovec and her own Milord Du Valon came away with the win. Nora Frisch and Kaitlyn Kurtz's Palm Beach finished just behind the pair in second place, and Stephanie Brennan on the Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center's Manolo rounded out the top three.
In the jumper ring, Jessica Mundie rode her own Camalii to a win in the $2,500 S.A. Comunale NAL Children's/Adult 1.15m Jumper Classic. Aaron Donnan rode Charity Donnan's Real Super Quick into second place, and Emma Seving took third place with her own Quidam's Zeus Z.
Jessica Mundie and Camalii
Donnan also rode Charity Donnan's After Joe into first place in the $1,500 S.A. Comunale Low Children's/Adult 1.0m Jumper Classic. Shauna Pingrey and her own Fabrianna DR finished in second place, and Sherri Terhaar and her own Dukato finished in third place. For his consistent top performances over the course of Friday and Saturday, Donnan was awarded the championship in the Children's/Adult 1.0m-1.15m Jumper division at the BIHS with Real Super Quick on Saturday. Reserve champion honors went to Jessica Mundie and Camalii.
Other champions crowned on Saturday included Clare Karlovec and Milord Du Valon in the Adult Amateur, 18-35, Hunter division, Christine Steer and Marvelous in the Adult Amateur, 36 and Over, Hunter division and Santa Maspane and Kennedy in the Low 3' Hunter division.
The BIHS is the most prominent fundraiser of the year for the BTRC.
The BIHS is an AA rated hunter/jumper show and offers excellent preparation for horses and riders who will be competing at indoor finals this fall as the facility features one of the largest indoor riding arenas in the nation. Whether you attend this year's BIHS as preparation for the fall indoor circuit and zone finals or to cheer on your friends and family, the BTRC welcomes you to their home and wishes all exhibitors a fun and successful show!
For more information regarding the BIHS and BTRC, please click here.