Helen Lenahan's participation and dedication to the equestrian sport has been nothing short of amazing, she was awarded the Mrs. A.C. Randolph Owners Legacy Award at the USHJA Evening of Equestrians Program. Photo courtesy of the USHJA.
Lenahan has a truly remarkable history when it comes to the equestrian industry. Her resume includes owning and showing 3-gaited and 5-gaited champions, generating side saddle champions, producing champion driving ponies and dedicating years of participation to the annual George H. Morris Clinic held at the Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center.
Her generosity to the sport is profound, and her legacy is seen in the many great horses she has helped along as well as the support she has given juniors and professionals alike. Three of her horses have won the USEF Horse of the Year Award: Roses are Red, Logically and Gabriel with numerous championship wins at the Devon Horse Show, Capital Challenge, Washington International and the National Horse Show. Her other horses with abundant accolades include Extraordinary, Beau Geste, Red Onion, Spotted Owl, Night Owl, Diamond Girl, Violets are Blue, Gandolf, Sting, Striking, Abbreviation, Maqua, Dream Bay, Candy Kid and Changing Times. Two of Lenahan's side saddle horses garnered championship honors at the top shows, Striking and Changing Times. This year, Miss Lucy was the USEF Second Year Green Working Hunter Reserve National Champion for her total points earned.
Although Lenahan was unable to attend the convention, Susie Schoellkopf accepted on her behalf. "Helen has done it all," she described. "She is very sad that she couldn't attend the ceremony and accept the award, but she is so honored. She is a class act and an amazing friend."
The Mrs. A.C. Randolph Owners Legacy award was established by the USHJA Owners Task Force in 2011 to acknowledge a past or current owner who has been, or is a true "patron" of the hunter/jumper industry. The award honors one owner who has created a legacy of giving back to the hunter/jumper sport through continued dedication and support. Lenahan's name will be the first engraved on the Mrs. A.C. Randolph bronze.
Schoellkopf thanked the owners, the committee and Sue Bopp for the award, as well as the many others who have been a part of Helen Lenahan's success: Conrad Homfeld, Jennifer Alfano, Gary Ryman, Brian Flynn, Ben O'Conner, Molly Ashe, Louise Serio, Kevin Lenahan, Jenny Fisher, Lauren Gioia, Joe Darby, Jane Gaston, Buddy Brown, George Morris, Frank Willard and Allan Smith.
"Ralph Caristo once said to me-all of us as trainers will only have one great owner in our career," Schoellkopf described. "Helen is mine."
Based out of Buffalo, NY, SBS Farms' Susie Schoellkopf and Jennifer Alfano run one of the foremost show hunter training operations in the country, and travel nationwide to compete in the nation's most prestigious horse shows. Adding to their numerous accolades, Schoellkopf and Alfano both recently received prestigious awards; Schoellkopf was presented with the USHJA Presidents Distinguished Service Award, while Alfano was the highest grossing Hunter Rider in the country, as she earned over $400,000 last year.
SBS Farms, Inc. continues the proud tradition of the Saddle and Bridle Club as one of the top show stables in the northeast. Schoellkopf is also the Executive Director of the Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center, which houses both The Buffalo Equestrian Center as well as SBS Farms. Built in 1922, the 160-stall facility is a historical landmark, with its unique English Tudor and gothic style architecture. For more information on SBS Farms and the Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center, please visit www.thebtrc.org.