Articles: Horse News

Contact:
Lauren Fisher for Phelps Media Group, Inc.
at (561) 753-3389 or at pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com

Buffalo, NY - September 20, 2010 - Sunday, September 19th was the final day of competition for the 2010 Buffalo International Horse Show (BIHS) and featured a full day of exciting events to conclude the week. For the first time in the 64-year history of the BIHS, the horse show hosted a USHJA International Hunter Derby in its large indoor arena in downtown Buffalo, NY. The class was a huge success with a beautiful course set by Phil DeVita and a big win for Jane Gaston and her nine-year-old Oldenburg gelding Lumiere.

The hunter derby class was judged by two panels, including Jim Clapperton and Carleton Brooks on panel one and Phil DeVita and Tony Sgarlata on panel two. Riders showed over the first round course and then returned for a second round handy course. Both rounds of competition were excellent and in the end it was Jane Gaston and Lumiere who led the way with scores of 174 and 188 for a two round total of 362 points to earn top prize.

Jennifer Alfano finished in second and third place riding Miss Lucy and The Specialist. Alfano and Miss Lucy, owned by Helen Lenahan, earned a 164 in the first round and then wowed the judges in the handy to earn a 195 in round two. The pair's two round total of 359 finished in second place. Riding The Specialist, owned by Meredith Lipke, Alfano finished in third place with a score of 356.

Other top derby finishers included junior rider Olivia Weaver and her horse Yes Indeed! who finished in fourth place with an overall score of 330. Alfano rode Fantabulous to fifth place with a 318 and also finished in sixth place with Jersey Boy. Alfano and Jersey Boy had an unfortunate rail in the first round to receive a score of 98, but then scored big in the handy round with a 201 to end the night with a total of 299 points. Lydia Ulrich and Late Night placed seventh with 298 points, and Sarah Mechlin and On Tour scored a 241 to finish in eighth.

Prior to the derby, the Junior Hunter divisions concluded their second day of competition on Sunday and presented championship honors at the Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center. The Grand Junior Hunter Championship was awarded to Kelly Bauernschmidt riding Ramazotti. The pair was presented with the Large Junior Hunter 16-17 division championship with Wingman and Meghan Kaupp in reserve. Bauernschmidt also earned the division tricolors in the Small Junior Hunter 16-17 division, riding Mein Schatz to the championship and Lariat to the reserve championship. Bauernschmidt and Mein Schatz then won the $1,000 "Up the Creek" Junior Hunter Classic with the highest score of 170. Olivia Weaver and Yes Indeed! finished in second place in the Junior Hunter Classic with a score of 166. They were also presented with the championship tricolor in the Large Junior Hunter 15 and Under division with Julia Acierno and Cruise in reserve.

Later in the day the Pony Hunters concluded their divisions and awarded championship honors. Morgan Ward rode True Sport to the Pony Hunter Grand Championship after sweeping the Small Pony division and earning the championship tricolor over I'm Totally Royal and Abigail Brayman in reserve. Caroline Kellogg rode Cosmic to the division championship in the Medium Ponies over Morgan Ward and April Rose in reserve. In the Large Pony division, Ashton Alexander guided Blue Ridge Sunset to the championship tricolor with Morgan Ward and Madam Alexander in reserve.

Concluding the afternoon's competition, the Children's Hunter divisions completed their second day of competition and showed in the $500 "Say Hey" Children's Hunter Classic. It was a fantastic day for Bella Cramer and her mount Mactier as the pair earned the Children's Hunter Grand Championship, topped the Children's Hunter 15-17 division championship, and also won the Children's Classic with the highest score of 164. Cramer and Mactier swept the 15-17 division, winning the blue ribbon in every class. Whitney Reynolds rode Montana Magic to the reserve position.

The Children's Hunter 14 & Under also presented championship honors with Jenna Petrie Moran riding One Hundred One to the top tricolor. Lilly Ulrich and Athena earned the reserve championship and also finished second in the Classic with a score of 162.

Sunday's competition concluded the 2010 Buffalo International Horse Show for its 64th annual competition. The BIHS is held each year as a benefit for the Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center and had another fantastic week of competition thanks to the many exhibitors and all those involved. For more information regarding the 64th Annual Buffalo International Horse Show and the Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center, please visit www.thebtrc.org or call (716) 877-9295.

Highlights - Wednesday through Saturday

The 64th Annual Buffalo International Horse Show (BIHS) began competition on Wednesday, September 15 at the Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center (BTRC) in Buffalo, NY. The horse show hosted a number of special classes in their large indoor arena through Sunday, September 19, featuring great prize money and exciting competition to benefit the BTRC and its fantastic program.

Kicking off the first full day of competition, classes began with a full schedule of professional hunter divisions. The First Year Green Working Hunters showed first with day one wins going to Jennifer Alfano and horses, Miss Lucy, owned by Helen Lenahan, and Fantabulous, owned by Shelley Shaulinski.

David Boley dominated the first day of competition in the Conformation Hunters, winning over fences and under saddle with Kingdom Come, owned by B&B Ltd. and also finishing in the top ribbons with Phil in the Blank, owned by Ellen Bifano and Late Night, owned by B&B Ltd.

Sarah Mechlin rode Yes Indeed, owned by Olivia Weaver, to two first pace ribbons in the Second Year Green Working Hunter division. Jennifer Alfano rode Meredith Lipke's Accomplice to the blue ribbon under saddle and David Boley earned top ribbons with Step N Fetch It, owned by Dennis Hulse.

Alfano dominated in the Regular Working Hunter division, winning both over fences with SBS Farms' super star Jersey Boy, winning the under saddle on Meredith Lipke's The Specialist, and also finishing third in all three of the day's classes riding the BTRC's Mick O Angelo.

Alfano was not done there however, as the talented rider went on to win the Open Hunter class with Fantabulous, earned the Pre-Green Hunter Championship aboard Gilden, owned by Billee Steffee, and also finished with the Low Hunter Championship aboard Lights Out, owned by Don Stewart Jr. Lights Out is currently leased by SBS Farms' student Sarah Rimmler, and the pair will be seen competing later in the week in the Children's Hunter division.

The 64th Annual Buffalo International Horse Show (BIHS) continued on Thursday with a grand championship win for Jennifer Alfano and Helen Lenahan's Miss Lucy. Beginning the day with two beautiful rounds over fences, Jennifer Alfano rode Miss Lucy to two first place ribbons in The First Year Green Working Hunters. Adding to the pair's win under saddle as well as first and second place ribbons over fences on Wednesday, the beautiful chestnut mare took home the division's championship honors. Alfano and Shelley Shaulinski's Fantabulous earned the division's reserve tricolor.

As the professional hunter divisions concluded in the morning, Miss Lucy also earned the Grand Hunter Championship and was presented the prize alongside Alfano and Lenahan.

Continuing the day's competition, David Boley remained at the top of the Conformation Hunter division. Boley rode Phil in the Blank, owned by Ellen Bifano, to the divisions championship tricolor and also earned the reserve championship riding Kingdom Come, owned by B&B Ltd.

Sarah Mechlin rode Yes Indeed, owned by Olivia Weaver, to the championship honors in the Second Year Green Working Hunter division with Jennifer Alfano and Meredith Lipke's Accomplice finishing in reserve.

Alfano then completed out the day with the championship and reserve championship tricolors in the Regular Working Hunter division, topping the division with Meredith Lipke's The Specialist and taking reserve with Jersey Boy.

The Buffalo International Horse Show held its third day of competition on Friday in Buffalo, NY, with a full schedule of hunter and jumper competition. After two days of excellent competition, Jane Gaston and her nine-year-old Oldenburg gelding Lumiere earned top honors in the Amateur-Owner Hunter division. Gaston and Lumiere were named the Amateur-Owner Hunter Grand Champions, earned the division's championship tricolor, and also topped the $1,000 "The Full Monty" Amateur-Owner Hunter Classic. Meredith Lipke rode Accomplice to the Amateur-Owner Hunter reserve championship.

Later in the morning, the Adult Amateur Hunters competed with the Grand Championship and division championship being awarded to Alexis Mierzwa and Hooligan, owned by Howard Epstein. The pair also topped the $500 "Shogun" Adult Hunter Classic, and Mierzwa rode the BTRC's Nadal to the division's reserve championship honors.

Also competing on Friday were the Pre-Adult and Pre-Children's Hunter divisions. Zenith, owned by Hannah Goodson-Cutt and ridden by Stacey Hanson, earned the Pre-Adult Hunter division championship with On Island Time and Roseann Deni in reserve. In the Pre-Children's Hunters Lucky Charm, owned by the BTRC and ridden by Meghan Joyce earned the championship tricolor with Up the Creek Sherman, owned by Beth Congel and ridden by Patricia Garrett in reserve.

The $1,500 IBM Silver Stirrup 2'6" Classic was the feature event of the evening to conclude the third day of BIHS competition. The Pre-Adult and Pre-Children's competitors returned for the Classic and completed two rounds of competition. Victoria Schaber and Break out the Blue led both rounds with scores of 86 and 85 for a two round total of 171. Roseann Deni and On Island Time finished in second with their score of 148, and Up the Creek Sherman and Patricia Garrett earned a 144 for third place.

Saturday's competition at the 2010 Buffalo International Horse Show (BIHS) featured a full schedule of events in the Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center's large indoor arena. The morning and afternoon competition saw the first day of the Junior, Children's and Pony Hunter divisions. The competition then kicked into high gear in the evening as the exhibitors showed for excellent prize money in both hunter and jumper classics.

The evening's festivities began with the $2,500 "Winston" USHJA National Hunter Classic with 18 entries to compete in the first round. The top 13 were then invited back for the second round to compete over a handy course, and it was Sarah Mechlin and Favorite who earned the overall victory. The pair earned scores of 91 in both the first and second rounds for a two round total of 182. Jane Gaston and Lumiere earned scores of 85 and 90 to finish with a 175 in second place. Third place honors were awarded to Kate Haley riding Abigail Wexner's Serato, with scores of 81 and 92 to finish with a 173. Other top finishers included Jen Gray and Cornerstone in fourth, Lydia Ulrich and Becoming in fifth, and Meghan Kaupp riding Wingman in sixth.

Class winner Favorite is a five-year-old Belgian Warmblood owned by Richard Cheska. Twenty-two-year-old Sarah Mechlin, of Cincinatti, OH, rode the young gelding to his first big victory tonight while in Buffalo with Patty and Richard Rodgers of Branch Hill Farm.

Following Mechlin's victory, the classes continued with the $2,500 "Up the Creek" Children's/Adult Jumper Classic with ten to compete. Six were able to complete the first round course to advance to the jump-off and it was then an exciting race against the clock. Monica Harvey and Dark Side of the Moon came out victorious as the final pair to jump off over the shortened course. Jumping double clear in 26.232 seconds, Harvey and 'Dark Side' were just able to top the first double clear set by Meghan Kaupp and Entourage. Kaupp and Entourage finished in second place with their time of 26.678 seconds. Bella Cramer was a close third riding Happy Hour through the timers double clear in 28.252 seconds. Olivia Weaver rode On Tour to fourth place in 30.116 seconds and Lydia Ulrich and Lamarni finished in fifth in 30.157 seconds. Madison Brayman and Only Jumping Boy were very close to topping the class with a blazing fast time of 23.142 seconds, but a rail at the last fence would put the pair in sixth place.

The final class of the evening was the $1,000 Stephen Comunale Low Children's/Adult Jumper Classic. After an exciting class, Delaney Hamill and Lady Liberty came out on top with double clear rounds and a jump-off time of 29.707 seconds. David Laks and Oh My finished in second place after jumping double clear in 32.516 seconds. Hamill also rode OT Tina to third place honors with one rail down for four faults in 30.505 seconds.

The Children's/Adult Jumpers were then presented with championship honors for their divisions at the conclusion of the evening. Monica Harvey and Dark Side of the Moon earned the Children's/Adult Jumper championship with Madison Brayman and Only Jumping Boy in reserve. Delaney Hamill and Lady Liberty were presented with the Low Children's/Adult Jumper championship with Candace Bredenberg and Mr. Brown in reserve.

Earlier in the day the $500 "Scribbles" Pony Hunter Classic was held for the Small, Medium, and Large Pony Hunters. After two beautiful rounds of competition, Morgan Ward and April Rose earned the first place honors with a two round total of 152. Tyler Petrie and Lifeline were second with a score of 148, and Ashton Alexander finished in third riding Blue Ridge Sunset to a score of 145.