Jennifer Alfano of SBS Farms Named Leading Hunter Rider at Pennsylvania National Horse Show
Equestrian News Release

Harrisburg, PA - October 30, 2007 - At last week's Pennsylvania National Horse Show, Jennifer Alfano of SBS Farms in Buffalo, NY, was named the Leading Hunter Rider of the competition. Alfano won three tricolor ribbons and rode five horses to top finishes at the highly competitive indoor show.

Alfano's first Leading Hunter Rider title came in 2004, when she rode GG Valentine and other horses to top honors in Harrisburg. "It feels really good to win," Alfano said. "Harrisburg is my hometown, which makes it harder sometimes. To go back and be successful means a lot."

Alfano started out the week in the First Year Green Working Hunter division. She rode Violets Are Blue, owned by Helen Lenahan, to the reserve championship in the division. Violets Are Blue jumped to first, third, and fourth place ribbons and won the under saddle. This was the pretty mare's first big tricolor win. Violets Are Blue is usually a contender in the under saddle class. Alfano noted, "I think she felt a little more relaxed this week, having already done Washington indoors. She hacks so well."

Rock Star, owned by Bright Star 158 LLC, lived up to his name this week. The 8-year-old Warmblood gelding was champion in the Second Year Green Working Hunters after he won two over fences classes and was third in another. Rock Star also jumped the four-foot height in the Regular Working Hunters and was reserve champion. Rock Star picked up first, second, third, and fifth place ribbons in that division.

"Rock Star was perfect," Alfano said. "He's unbelievable, really. He gives his all every time, which is amazing I think. Week after week, he never tries to do anything wrong or let us down."

Alfano ribboned on two other horses in the Regular Working Hunters. Once and Again, owned by Meredith Lipke Bartolone, finished third, fourth, and fifth over fences, while SBS Farms Inc.'s Jersey Boy was fourth, fifth, and fifth.

In the Green Conformation Hunters, Alfano had top ribbons on Sting, owned by SBS Farms Inc. Sting won a class, two seconds, a fifth, and a sixth over fences in the division. Jersey Boy was third, fourth, and fifth in the jumping classes.

For her great success on all five horses, Alfano was named the Leading Hunter Rider of the show. "I wasn't expecting it, but they're all great horses," Alfano said. "It's nice that it all came together, and they all went well."

Alfano also trained Meredith Lipke Bartolone to ribbons in the Amateur-Owner Over 35 Hunter division. Lipke Bartolone was fourth in the under saddle class on Churchill and placed in two classes over fences on Once and Again.

Kacey McCann of Palmyra, PA, received ribbons in the junior hunters. She piloted Mustique for Don Stewart Jr. in the Small Junior 16-17 Hunters and Ramazotti for Sika Sievers in the Large Junior 16-17 Hunters.

SBS Farms Inc. will compete next at the Syracuse Invitational Sporthorse Tournament in Syracuse, NY, on Oct. 31 - Nov. 4, 2007.

For more information on SBS Farms, please visit http://www.thebtrc.org.


Photo Credit: Pennsylvania National Horse Show Leading Hunter Rider Jennifer Alfano and Rock Star, champions in the Second Year Green Hunters. Photo (C) 2007 Randi Muster This photo may be used free of charge only in relation to this press release.