Jennifer Alfano and Kacey McCann Win Multiple Honors at Merrill Lynch Hunter Jumper Classic

Moreland Hills, OH- July 15- SBS Farms of Buffalo, NY, had another winning week at the Merrill Lynch Hunter Jumper Classic, held July 12-17. Trainer and rider Jennifer Alfano was very successful in the professional hunter divisions, and junior rider Kacey McCann picked up more summertime honors.

Despite it being the first week that Alfano has ever ridden Charming, the consummate professional came away with three first place finishes, a second place, and two fourth places to win the tricolor in the Green Conformation division. Charming is owned by Caroline Moran, and Alfano explained, “Charming was sent to us for Kacey to show in the juniors and I rode her since it’s her first week. She’s been very good here.” Charming has something in common now with barnmate, Trebuchet, who is also at SBS Farms for Alfano and McCann to ride. Alfano piloted Trebuchet, owned by Jonathan and Jeffrey Phillips, to two blue ribbons, and second, third, and fourth place finishes. These top ribbons gave them the reserve championship ribbon in the Regular Working Hunter division.

Although Sun Bear has done his fair share of winning, he is still only a Pre-Green horse. Sun Bear, owned by Sharon O’Neill, captured the championship at the Atlanta Spring Classic, but then had plenty of time off to reflect. The time spent relaxing did not faze Sun Bear, however, and Alfano commented, “It’s his first time back since the spring, but he’s so smart and easy that it was no problem for him.” Sun Bear finished first, second, second, fourth, and fifth in the Pre-Green division and came away with the championship.

The reserve championship in the Pre-Green division was also won by Jennifer Alfano, on Jennifer Burger’s Breitling. The pair have only been together for a week, but the “really nice and quiet” horse received first, second, and third place ribbons at the competitive show. “It’s really nice to have all the babies and have them coming along so well,” Alfano said with a smile.

Not to be outdone, 15 year old Kacey McCann, of Palmyra, PA, won her fair share of championship ribbons at the Ohio show. On By the Way, owned by SBS Farms, she was the Small Junior 15 & Under Hunter champion. Her high point total gave her the Grand Junior Hunter title over the champions from three other junior divisions. McCann is also coming off her two-week streak of “Best Child Rider” at the Saratoga Classic Horse Shows.

McCann rode Trebuchet to the reserve championship in the Large Junior Hunter division, and received first and third place ribbons on Charming in the Small Junior Hunters. She also rode By the Way in her equitation classes and finished second in the hunter phase of the Washington International Horse Show Equitation Classic and second in the USEF Show Jumping Talent Search class.

SBS Farms will move on the HITS-on-the-Hudson shows in Saugerties, NY, from July 20-31. McCann will also be competing in the Show Circuit Magazine/USEF National Junior Hunter East Coast Finals in Saugerties on August 1-2.

Trainer Susie Schoellkopf and the rest of the SBS Farms team are also preparing for the 59th Annual Buffalo International Horse Show (BIHS), to be held at their home base in the Buffalo Equestrian Center, on September 14-18. The show is USEF rated and will benefit the Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center.

The BIHS will feature a $2,000 Handy Hunter Classic and $1,500 Children/Adult Jumper Classic on Saturday evening, as well as VIP seating in The Red Carpet Club and Box seats surrounding the indoor ring. The show is great for equestrians to use in preparation for the fall indoor circuit and zone finals.

For more information on SBS Farms and the Buffalo International Horse Show, please visit their website at: www.ryegate.com/BTRC/index.htm or email Sbeat@aol.com.

Photo Credit: Kacey McCann, who was Grand Junior Hunter Champion and second in the USEF Talent Search at the Merrill Lynch Hunter Jumper Classic. Photo by James Leslie Parker.