The team at SBS Farms, Inc. headed to the Lone Star State to compete in the prestigious Pin Oak Charity Horse Show in Katy, Texas, where they continued their winning momentum from the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit. There, they secured multiple championships in a variety of divisions over the course of three weeks. As one of the finest Hunter/Jumper show stables in the Northeast, SBS Farms, led by Susie Schoellkopf, is recognized for producing horses and riders at the highest levels of the sport.
During the first week of the Pin Oak Charity Horse Show, SBS Farms head trainer Jennifer Alfano and her own Candid swept the High Performance Conformation Hunter division after earning six consecutive blue ribbons.
Alfano also piloted multiple mounts in the Green Hunter divisions, where the veteran hunter rider rode Sharon O’Neill’s Talladega to a first place over fences and in the stake class, as well as a second place in the under saddle, for the Green 3’6″ Hunter championship. She also earned top placings in the Green 3′ Hunter division with her own Cooper and Fortune, owned by Molly Gfroerer.
Kathy Chiaf had immense success in the 3'3" Amateur-Owner, 36 & Over, Hunter division with both of her horses, Silver Lining and Sweetwater. She won the under saddle aboard Silver Lining and guided Sweetwater to two wins over fences and in the stake round for the division championship.
Fortune and Molly Gfroerer
Emma Walters laid down beautiful trips in the 3'3" Large Junior, 16–17, Hunters to secure the championship tricolor with Crisp, owned by the Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center, including a win in the stake round and under saddle class as well as a second place in the handy.
Alfano rounded out the first week on a high note riding her longtime derby partner, Miss Lucy, owned by O’Neill, to a second-placed finish in the $30,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby. She also delivered a stand-out performance with Talladega to win the 3’6″/3’9″ Texas Super Stake and finished third with Fortune in the USHJA Green Incentive.
Week 2 brought more top ribbons back to the SBS Farms tack room. In the Green 3′ Hunters, Alfano rode Fortune to a one-two punch over fences in addition to placing second in the stake round. Debbie Marks’ Fairlife also had consistent trips with Alfano in the same division. Furthermore, Fortune placed fourth in the USHJA Green Incentive, while Talladega finished second in the 3’6″/3’9″ Texas Super Stake with Alfano.
Chiaf continued her success in the Amateur-Owners with Silver Lining and Sweetwater, while junior riders, Gfroerer and Walters, also showcased their talents during the second week of competition on behalf of SBS Farms. Gfroerer guided Fortune to great trips in the Modified Children’s Hunters, while Walters and Crisp captured the blue ribbon over fences in the 3'3" Large Junior, 16–17, Hunter division.
Kathy Chiaf's Kindred and Jennifer Alfano won the Texas Super Stake and the USHJA Green Incentive during Week 3.
The team concluded their trip to Texas with more championships during the final and third week of the Pin Oak Charity Horse Show. With Alfano in the irons, Candid once again swept the High Performance Conformation Hunter division, while Kindred, owned by Chiaf, secured the championship in the 3'3" Green Hunter division. Talladega also took home the reserve championship with Alfano in the 3'6" Green Hunter division.
Wrapping up competition at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center, Alfano claimed two top 10 placings in the $15,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby, finishing second with Crisp and seventh with Fortune. Miss Lucy collected another second-placed finish in the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby with Alfano, while more blue ribbons came from Talladega and Kindred, who won the USHJA Green Incentive during Week Three, in the 3’6″/3’9″ Texas Super Stake and 3’/3’3″ Texas Super Stake, respectively.
The team at SBS Farms will head back home to Buffalo, New York, for a much deserved break before continuing on with their spring competition schedule at the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows and Devon Horse Show in May.
