Jennifer Alfano and Candid claimed the Grand Hunter Championship on Thursday. (SEL Photography)

Buffalo, N.Y. - Candid is no stranger to the impressive indoor arena at the Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center (BTRC). The 7-year-old Holsteiner gelding, owned and ridden by Jennifer Alfano, resides there at SBS Farms, and this week at the Buffalo International Horse Show, he showed that he was every bit at home in the ring.

The 69th Annual Buffalo International Horse Show kicked off on Wednesday with Candid taking the blue ribbon in all four of the day's Conformation Hunter division classes. Alfano and Candid then returned on Thursday to continue their domination of the division, ultimately claiming the championship. While Candid was uncatchable in the point tally toward the division championship award this week, Alfano also finished in the reserve championship position with another top Conformation Hunter, Helen Lenahan's Me Again.

With the first championship under her belt, Alfano kept right on winning throughout the day. She next picked up the High Performance Hunter champion title riding Billie Steffee's Maggie May and the Pre-Green Hunter championship on The Exchange, a 7-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by SBS Farms Inc. Alfano and The Exchange's beautiful rounds throughout the day also earned him the win in the Pre-Green Incentive and the designation of the Equus Foundation's Best Performance.

The reserve championships in the High Performance Hunters and the Pre-Green Hunters went respectively to Gianni, owned and ridden by Jennifer Dahlman, and to Castle, owned by Sharon O'Neill and ridden by Alfano.

In the Performance Hunter division, the championship went home to Alfano's fellow SBS Farms rider, Alicia Heberle. Heberle rode to the top honor on Kinder Scout, a 10-year-old Wurtemberger gelding owned by Emily Cherney. The reserve championship in the Performance Hunters was back to Alfano, this time aboard Barbara Britt's Rio Viva.

In the Low Hunters, the championship went to Lilly Ulrich and her own Montenegro. The reserve championship was awarded to Sarah Barge riding Sydney DeGrazia's Reveille Z.

Rounding out the day on Thursday was the presentation of the Buffalo International Horse Show's special $1,000 Groom's Class, sponsored by Penelope Ayers and Ravens Wood Farm. This year's top groom honor went to Shauna Pingrey of Hasty Hills.

Competition at the Buffalo International Horse Show continues on Friday with the $1,000 Take2 Thoroughbred Hunter division, the $1,000 "Full Monty" 3'6" Amateur-Owner Hunter Classic, the $1,000 Up the Creek 3'3" Amateur-Owner Hunter Classic and much more. In the evening, spectators and exhibitors alike can enjoy a demonstration from the riders of the Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center, the horse show's beneficiary.

To learn more about the Buffalo International Horse Show and the Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center visit  www.thebtrc.org.
All photos are to be used solely in relation to this press release. Photos are available for purchase online at www.selphotography.com.

69th ANNUAL BUFFALO INTERNATIONAL HORSE SHOW FAST FACTS:

EVENT: 69th Annual Buffalo International Horse Show, which benefits the Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center. The show will run from September 9-13, 2015.

WHAT: Buffalo's most prestigious horse show. The premier horse show is one of the best ways for exhibitors to prepare themselves and their horses for the fall indoor circuit of finals. BIHS offers a large indoor arena for competition that gives horses and riders a chance to compete indoors before showing at the national finals in Pennsylvania, Washington D.C. or Kentucky. The horse show offers generous prize money in every division.

Sanctioned and recognized by: United States Equestrian Federation, Premier rate Hunter and 2* Jumper; Syracuse Professional Horsemen's Association; Ohio PHA; WPPHA.

WHERE: Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center, 950 Amherst Street, Buffalo, NY 14216

WHEN: September 9-13, 2015
PRIZE LIST:  http://www.thebtrc.org/files/9514/3481/4336/BIHS_Prize_list_2015.compressed.pdf

HIGHLIGHTS:
"Scribbles" Pony Hunter Classic
"Say Hey" Children's Hunter Classic
"The Fully Monty" Amateur-Owner Hunter Classic
$1000 Grooms Class sponsored by Penelope Ayers and Ravens Wood Farm
Johnson Horse Transportation $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby
S.A. Comunale Low and High Child/Adult Jumper Classics
Up the Creek Farm Junior Hunter Division
Mr. and Mrs. James Bokor $1,000 Pre Green Division and $1,500 Pre Green Incentive Class
$1,000 TAKE2 Thoroughbred Hunter Division
ADMISSION: Free for spectators, except for Friday and Saturday night events, where admission is $5 for adults, and children 10 and under are free.

PARKING: Free on Amherst Street, on the grass on Great Arrow street, or in the school parking lot on Great Arrow.

DIRECTIONS: From NY Thruway/I-90, it is only 10 minutes to the horse show facility. From I-90, take Rt 33 West. Follow to NY-198 East/Scajaquada Expressway West. Continue on the 198 then take the Route 384 North/Delaware Ave exit. At the stop sign, turn right and immediately turn left at the first light, which puts you on Delaware Ave. Follow Delaware Ave. until Amherst Street. Turn left on Amherst Street, travel less than 200 feet, and the Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center is on the right.

THE FACILITY: The Buffalo Saddle and Bridle Club was built in 1921 as an indoor polo arena. Today it is known as the Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center (BEC) and features one of the largest indoor riding arenas in the nation. Located at 950 Amherst Street, in the heart of metropolitan Buffalo, it is now the home of the Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center Inc., the Buffalo Equestrian Center and SBS Farms, Inc. The five-acre site includes the indoor sand 120x 90 riding arena, stables, paddocks and an outdoor riding ring. The spectacular barn offers permanent stalls for all horse show participants.

The Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center has been the site of a therapeutic riding program for over twenty years. The BTRC currently offers programs for mentally and emotionally impaired, learning disabled and developmentally challenged children ages 6 to 16. Programs are designed and taught by Jenna Zografos, an instructor certified with the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH). The BTRC is the only therapeutic riding facility in Western New York with four PATH certified instructors. Volunteers are always needed and are an invaluable part of the program. They can assist with horse care and handling or can serve as a friend and side walker. For more information, please call (716) 877-9295.

The Buffalo Equestrian Center is part of The Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center. They continue the tradition of the Saddle and Bridle Club, giving lessons to kids starting at age six through adult ages. The BEC holds clinics with Jennifer Alfano, a summer camp, and is now a member of the IEA (Interscholastic Equestrian Association). Lessons are given all year Tuesday through Sunday.

SBS Farms is also based out of the BTRC, with owner Susan Schoellkopf. Susie serves on the Pre Green Hunter Task Force and Junior Hunter Taskforce and the D&M committee. Susie is also an "R" rated hunter judge and was recently inducted into the National Show Hunter Hall of Fame. Jennifer Alfano is the trainer for SBS Farms. She is a two time World Champion Professional Hunter Rider, and won the $100,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals in 2012 aboard Jersey Boy. Jennifer also has ridden numerous USEF Horse of the Year awardees. Jennifer has trained top amateur, junior and pony riders.
Blue Ribbon Sponsors: Hodgson Russ LLP, Up The Creek Farm, Robert-James Sales Inc., Mr. and Mrs. James Bokor, Reflections Farm, Laura and Meredith Mateo, Sanderson Wealth Management, Lynn Seithel, Billie Steffee and Craighead Farm, Lissa Davis Tepas, Tickets.com, WGRZ Channel 2.
Red Ribbon Sponsors: Arena Products, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Banta, Jill O. Brown, Dun Foundation, The EMO Agency Inc., Erie County Medical Center, Kim Griswold, Samantha Hallman, The Hunter Horn and Shelly Shaulinksi, Mr. and Mrs. Dean Jewett, Helen D. Lenahan, Phelps Media Group, JPJ Farm, Katie Jacobs Robinson, Mr. and Mrs. William Stanbro, and John R. Steel and Associates.

Yellow Ribbon Sponsors: Ashland Farms, Ken and Emily Smith, Beth Ashworth, Wayne Ashworth, Susan Blaisdell, Mr. and Mrs. JJ Boissier, Capital Fence Company Inc., Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Caristo, Dr. Elizabeth Doherty, FinishLine Products, Mr. Harold Frey, Anita Gates, Robert and Sally Gioia Fund at the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo, Grazing Fields Inc., Roy Hasely Hay & Straw, Susan Heller, Mr. and Mrs. Herman Heussler, Toddy Hunter, Chris and Jeff Jacobs, The Lenehan Family, Mr. and Mrs. Hans Mobius, Mr. and Mrs. Donald Pfalzer, Ms. M. Virginia Procter, RSB Farms Inc., Mr. Robert Goldfarb and Ruane Cunniff & Goldfarb Inc., Mr. and Mrs. Mark Samuels, Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Singer, Spot Coffee, Don Stewart Stables, Swimco Pools DBA Minute Trucking, Towne Automotive Group, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Trolli, Pamela Jacobs Vogt in honor of Dick Forrestal, Walsh Duffield Cos. Inc., Andrew, Emily, and Will Wyckoff, Greg and Donna Yungbluth.

CONTACT:
Buffalo International Horse Show
950 Amherst St.
Buffalo, NY 14216
716-877-9295 (phone)
716-877-4001 (fax) 
[email protected] 
www.thebtrc.org