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Jennifer Alfano Selected for 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games Hunter Derby Demonstration

April 13, 2010

Buffalo, New York –-- SBS Farms of Buffalo, NY, is pleased to announce that 2009 Chronicle of the Horse Show Hunter Horsewoman of the Year, Jennifer Alfano, has been selected to participate in the unprecedented 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) Hunter Derby Demonstration. Come September 25, 2010, the United States will rewrite equestrian history as it welcomes the 2010 WEG to Lexington, KY. The Hunter discipline will makes its debut on the world stage during the Games, adding to the significance of this great event with a special Hunter Derby Demonstration. Based on exemplary Hunter Derby performances in 2009, two initial invitations were extended to USHJA International Hunter Derby Series champion Jennifer Alfano, as well as 2009 $100,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby Final winner John French.

A renowned horsewoman with numerous accolades, Alfano has earned the respect of many as she has worked her way from grooming at the Olympics for Greg Best and Gem Twist, to winning three Horse of the Year titles, to now setting foot on the international stage demonstrating the essence of show hunters for the eyes of the world. Not only does she represent the mission of the United States Hunter Jumper Association, but also the principles upon which the USHJA International Hunter Derby Series was founded. From grass roots to grand champions, the mission of the USHJA is to be: “Committed to advancing and representing the hunter and jumper disciplines by fostering an educated community of equestrians that promotes the welfare of the horse and fairness in competition”. In order to achieve that mission, the USHJA High Performance Hunter Committee developed the Series to take show hunters to a new level, bringing back the traditional art and horsemanship of show hunters in hopes of creating an international sensation. From grass roots, to grand champions, to the international stage, Alfano has done it all.

Reflecting on the invaluable nature of the hunter derbies, Alfano explained, “The derbies are a great thing for the sport. The nice thing about them is that it forces us all to be better; it forces us as riders to ride better, it forces us as trainers to train better, and at the end of the day, there is just a lot more to it than outside, diagonal, outside, diagonal. I really enjoy the handy parts of each class, and they (USHJA) have done such a good job with course designing; they have done some great things that are unique, challenging, and exciting for riders, and for horses. Every derby is different, and each one has a different flavor. There is nothing generic about them yet, and I hope there never is. You never go to one and think to yourself ‘Oh, this is just like the derby we did a month ago’ – each one has its own flair, and that keeps us all at the top of our game.”

A two-time World Champion Hunter Rider, Alfano has led the USHJA International Hunter Derby Series from its inception. SBS Farms Trainer and Director Susie Schoellkopf expressed her thoughts on Alfano’s accomplishments, saying, “Jennifer has had such an amazing year in the derbies on Jersey Boy. 2009 was the first year the derbies became an event, and for her to lead the Series for the entire 18 months it has been in existence is incredible. She and John French have really earned and absolutely deserve to go to WEG for the demonstration. The fact that she has brought so many horses along through the derby ranks truly shows what a versatile rider she is.”

Building her impressive career from the ground up, Alfano is revered by owners, trainers, and peers for her true sense of horsemanship, dedication to the sport, and passion for the horses. Partaking in the hunter derby demonstration marks a turning of the guard in Alfano’s career; from a groom and a student of world-class jumper competition at the Olympic Games with Greg Best and Gem Twist, to the World Equestrian Games with her superstar Jersey Boy, as a rider and an educator of world-class hunter competition.

Alfano recalled the early days, stating, “As a junior I rode with Maxine Best, and got the opportunity to catch ride a lot of really nice horses. When my junior years were up, and I really had no idea what I wanted to do with my life, Greg (Best) was going to Florida for the first time and said ‘Hey, want to come to Florida?’ I said ‘Sure!’ and thought to myself, ‘good timing’. At the time he was just coming on the scene that year in Florida, and so was Gem Twist. I groomed Gem in his first Grand Prix, and he won that one, and then went to Tampa and won there. He was instantly famous; he went from nobody to a superstar overnight. That was 1987. While I was there, I did not get to ride all that much and I really missed it, and wanted to ride more. However, it was great what I did, and I kept staying longer. Every time I would think about leaving to ride, it was ‘Oh, I want to go to the World Cup. Oh, I want to go to the Olympics. Oh, I want to go to the Pan Am Games.’ Then I decided I really wanted to ride, so I got a job with Karen Marsh in New Jersey, and worked there for about a year and a half. It was a sales barn, so I just rode, and rode, all day long.”

SBS Farms and Susie Schoellkopf welcomed Alfano in 1990, and over the past two decades, Alfano has made her mark as one of the nation’s foremost hunter riders. Opportunity knocked on Alfano’s door a few years after she went to work for SBS Farms when the top professional of the operation was injured right before Indoors in 1992. Alfano remembered, “Susie said to me, you’re going to show Night Owl at Indoors,” and with a laugh, recalled thinking, “I’m going to do what?!”

She explained, “Night Owl was doing the Regular Conformations at the time. I had not shown over 3’ in years, and he was not the easiest horse in the world to ride. I was a little nervous, but it actually went quite well! That was a major turning point in my career.”

From that point on, Alfano continued to show Night Owl for another two years, and then began to bring along her first string of National Champions under the tutelage of Schoellkopf, and the support of Geri Bauer, Sharon O’Neill, and Barbara Kearny. Alfano went on to capture three National Horse of the Year Titles in the First Year Green Hunters with Big Bad Wolf (1996), Kansas (1997), and GG Valentine, two World Champion Hunter Rider titles in 1996 and 1997, as well as championships, grand championships, and leading hunter rider titles at every major horse show in the country.

Among her numerous accomplishments, Alfano said her most cherished success was at Madison Square Garden in 2001 with GG Valentine. “GG Valentine winning at Madison Square Garden was one of the greatest nights of my life. It was great to be at The Garden, which is probably the greatest sports complex in the world, GG was truly just unbelievable, and I think that to win there was probably one of the most incredible experiences. She won every class and the big $100,000 finale. That year the big $100,000 class at the end had riders from every division in it; juniors, amateurs, and professionals. GG won the whole thing, minus the hack - she won the big class, and both over fences in the Regular Workings. It was just an amazing night. She’s retired now, but the next generation of GG is coming along; there are two 2-year-olds by Popeye K, one yearling, and Cristo, who is by Oh Star and was just born two months ago; he’s a handful!”

Schoellkopf has observed the evolution of Alfano’s career, and commented, “She just has so much horse knowledge and such a great feel for the horses; she learns every step of the way. Jen is a sponge when it comes to knowledge, she never wants to stop learning, and I think that’s the real key. There are not many these days that have such a hands-on situation, and as a rider, that really gives her an edge in the ring with the horses, and as a trainer, an edge in the care of the horses and how they feel. She is an amazing all around person, and there are not that many of those around any more.”

Alfano concurred with Schoellkopf, stating, “I have done everything; I have been on all sides of this and have gotten very involved with the care of all of my horses and still am to this day. Grooming for Greg (Best) and as a kid, I always took care of my own horses. I think the most important thing is being involved. I know my horses really well. I know when they’re mad, when they’re cranky, when they’re good. I know when they’re ready to win, I know when they’re ready to lose, and that really comes from spending so much time around them.”

Taking note of her remarkable gift with the horses and scrupulous nature, numerous owners have chosen to work with Alfano and support her endeavors. Schoellkopf explained, “These owners could be a lot of places, but they choose Jen because of her gift with the horses. She has earned their respect to have them want to invest in future stars. Sharon O’Neill, Geri Bauer, Meredith Lipke, and myself have all believed in her. For her to evolve into doing the derbies with so many horses is very impressive. She has brought along a number of successful horses, including Kid Rock, Rock Star, Extraordinary, Jersey Boy, Accomplice, and The Specialist. The fact that she can not only handle the largest challenge the sport has to offer on one horse, but on many horses, really shows how versatile of a rider she is.” Expressing her gratitude, Alfano said, “The support the owners and Susie have given me has been incredible, and the girls in the barn are amazing; it is truly a team effort.”

Going forward, Alfano is excited to participate in the demonstration, and believes that it is a terrific thing for the hunters. “I hope that someday it will be an international sport, it would be incredible if it was. It takes a special horse, a true athlete that is brave and scopey, because the jumps keep getting bigger, which was the whole idea.”

SBS Farms Jersey Boy will make the trip to Lexington, KY, with Alfano as he has been her lead Derby horse. Last year, the duo emerged victorious in the $50,000 ASG Software Solutions/USHJA International Hunter Derby in Wellington, FL, $25,000 Chicago Hunter Derby, and $10,000 HITS Ocala USHJA International Hunter Derby. Alfano and Jersey Boy topped the 2009 USHJA International Hunter Derby Standings and finished off the year by earning second place in the $100,000 ASG Software Solutions/USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals in Lexington, KY.

SBS Farms leases a section of the Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center, where Executive Director of the program, Schoellkopf, provides children from all walks of life with the opportunity to enjoy horses, whether they are partaking in the Therapeutic Riding Program, the Buffalo Equestrian Center Lesson Program, or SBS Farms top hunter/jumper horse show operation. In addition to the WEG Demonstration invitation being of great significance to Alfano and SBS, Schoellkopf explained, “For those kids to have Jen going to WEG is just a lifetime experience that they would never get anywhere else, to have a trainer like that to look up to means the world.”

For more information on SBS Farms, please visit www.thebtrc.com

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