62nd Buffalo International Horse Show Wrap-Up
RELEASE: September 29, 2008
AUTHOR/ADMINISTRATOR: By Phelps Media Group
The 62nd Buffalo International Horse Show ran from September 17-21, with all proceeds from the event directly benefit the Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center. The horse show is one of the main stops for many riders to practice before national finals begin. The show gave out more than $26,000 in prize money.
Saturday night hosted a variety of award presentations. The first award was the Dedication Of The Horse Show. Recipients for 2008 included Jennifer Alfano of SBS Farms and Elizabeth McNabb of the Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center.
Jennifer Alfano grew up on her parents' farm in Harrisburg, PA. She qualified for Harrisburg at the age of 10. She was a major contender; placing well in the USET Finals and qualified for Maclay Finals. Starting her professional career, she was the caretaker of Gem Twist, horse of Greg Best. Alfano accompanied Greg and Gem Twist to the Seoul Olympics in Korea.
Alfano joined the SBS Farms team in 1991. She won the American Hunter and Jumper Foundation World Hunter Rider Award two years in a row in 1996 and 1997. Alfano has been champion at every major horse show in the country and is the only rider to have three consecutive First Year Green Hunter USEF Horse of the Year Honors. These horses include Kansas, Big Bad Wolf, and G.G. Valentine. Alfano has been an inspiration to many riders over the years. This award is to honor her amazing talent and her horses.
Elizabeth McNabb joined The Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center (BTRC) staff in 1991 as a trainer. McNabb grew up riding in Kane, PA, where she gained experience in English and Western riding as well as pony carts. She competed all over the country, including the Harrisburg State Finals. McNabb attended Indiana University of Pennsylvania where she was the captain of the Equestrian Team. After graduation, she became a trainer at Brigadoon Farm and was also a whipper-in for the Fox Branch Hounds.
Since working for BTRC, McNabb has done amazing things with the therapeutic riding program for kids with special needs and has earned her certification as a North American Riding for the Handicapped (NARHA) instructor. In addition, she has created an amazing camp, school group and lesson program at the Buffalo Equestrian Center. This award is to honor her devotion to the various programs and organization.
The 2008 Peach Taylor Sportsmanship Award was presented to Gabrielle Wood of Buffalo, NY. The award was donated by Mason Phelps to the Buffalo International Horse Show in order to recognize outstanding sportsmanship. Wood is a freshman in college. She donates her time and energy to the Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center. People describe Wood as "someone who is a sportsman and team player, and makes a lasting impression on every life she touches."
The award is presented in dedication to Peach Taylor. She was a master of foxhounds of the now defunct East Aurora Hunt, an avid equestrian and grandmother to Mason Phelps. In addition to her equestrian endeavors, she was also a very talented artist and sculptress. Better known by her friends as Peach, the award is a sculpture of one of the many horses Peach bred and raised.
Alfano was on top of her game as she gathered up many championships in the hunter divisions. Aboard Sting, owned by Helen Lenahan, Alfano won the grand hunter championship. Alfano rode Sting in two hunter divisions and was champion in both. The first division was the green working hunters. Alfano piloted Sting to first- and third-place ribbons, clinching the championship. In the green conformation hunter division, Alfano and Sting were awarded double-blue ribbons and garnered the championship.
Riding The Specialist, owned by Meredith Lipke Bartolone, Alfano and The Specialist were reserve champion in the green working hunters. The pair rode to two second-place ribbons. Bartolone also rode The Specialist in the amateur-owner hunters. Bartolone came a