Buffalo, NY – August 17, 2011 – Fall is rapidly approaching, and the Buffalo International Horse Show will soon be hosting its 65th annual hunter/jumper competition at the Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center. The show will be held on September 14-18, 2011, in downtown Buffalo, NY, at the home of the Buffalo Equestrian Center and SBS Farms Inc. The entire competition benefits the Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center facility and therapeutic riding program. Students from organizations such as Be A Friend (Big Brothers Big Sisters), Kids Escaping Drugs, and St. Mary’s School for the Deaf are all participants of their program, with over 100 independent students challenged by autism, fetal alcohol syndrome, cerebral palsy and Down syndrome. The show would not be possible without the support of their exhibitors and sponsors and all proceeds benefit their exceptional program.
The five-day schedule features highlights for everyone to enjoy, including $25,000 in class prize money with $13,000 worth of hunter and jumper classics for children, adults, juniors, amateur-owners, ponies and professionals. The BIHS is an ‘AA’ Rated event and is supported by the Syracuse PHA, Ohio PHA, and WPPHA. Recently, BIHS received sanctioning as a Canadian rated horse show.
The highlights for hunter riders include the $1,500 IBM Silver Stirrup Classic which will give Pre-Adult Hunters and Pre-Children’s Hunters the chance to compete for prize money and top honors. Saturday night will feature the $2,500 Johnson Horse Transportation USHJA 3′ National Hunter Classic, a two round competition open to all riders and horses and ponies. Throughout the five days, the hunter classes will also feature the $500 “Shogun” Adult Amateur Hunter Classic, the $500 “Say Hey” Children’s Hunter Horse Classic and the $500 Children’s Hunter Pony Classic. Other highlights for hunter riders include the $1,000 “Scribbles” Pony Hunter Classic, which will be open to all pony hunters, Junior riders will have the opportunity to compete in the $1,000 Up The Creek Farm Junior Hunter Classic and Amateur riders will have the chance to compete in the $1,000 “The Full Monty” Amateur-Owner Hunter Classic. Also returning to the BIHS will be the $1,000 Ravenswood Grooms Class.
Gifted jumper riders and their capable mounts will also have the opportunity to showcase their talent during the $2,500 Up The Creek Farm Children’s/ Adult Jumper Classic and the $1,000 Stephen Comunale Low Children’s/ Adult Jumper Classic.
This exceptional horse show would not be possible without the generous support of its sponsors. The Champion Donors include Buffalo News, Ticket.com, HSBC Bank USA, M&T Bank, Up the Creek, Penelope Ayres and Ravens Wood Farm, Helen Lenahan, Goshen Hill and Caroline Moran, Sanderson and Company, Megan Moran Kraut and Moran Charitable, Buena Vista Farm, PJP Farms, Billie Stefee and Craighead Farm, Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Wheeler, Ashland Farm, Four Winds Farm, Doubleday Foundation, Delaware North, and John R Steele. DJ Johnson and Johnson Horse Transportation will sponsor the $2,500 USHJA Hunter Classic held on Friday night.
Also benefiting the Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center is the Silent Auction where many prizes donated by gracious sponsors will assist in raising funds that fully support the program’s riders. Many supporters of the program graciously donated the prizes and without them the auction would not be possible. The items and donors include, a painting donated by Jane Gaston, dinner for four by Martin Danilowicz, a tour of the Buffalo Zoo for six people donated by the Buffalo Zoo, a tour of the Albright Know Art Gallery which includes lunch for four and was donated by the Albright Knox Art Gallery, two Sabre tickets donated by the Rimmler Family, a painting of Hales Black Majic (a BTRC therapeutic horse) donated by Nancy Baldwin, and a piece of jewelry donated by Maureen Derose. The raffle will also include tickets sold for about 40 additional items including gift cards and restaurant certificates.
For more information regarding the 65th Annual Buffalo International Horse Show, please visit www.thebtrc.org or call (716) 877-9295. Entries may be faxed to (716) 877-4001.
65th ANNUAL BUFFALO INTERNATIONAL HORSE SHOW FAST FACTS:
EVENT: 65th Annual Buffalo International Horse Show, which benefits the Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center.
WHAT: Buffalo’s most prestigious horse show. The ‘AA’ rated 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, Rated ‘AA’ Hunter and 2* Jumper; Syracuse Professional Horsemen’s Association; Ohio PHA; WPPHA. The show is great for equestrians to use in preparation for the fall indoor circuit and zone finals.
WHERE: Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center, 950 Amherst Street, Buffalo, NY 14216
WHEN: September 14-18, 2011
HIGHLIGHTS: The Buffalo International Horse Show benefits the Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center, and is one of the largest fundraisers for the program.
THURSDAY:
$1,000 Ravenswood Groom’s Class
FRIDAY:
$1,000 “The Full Monty” Amateur-Owner Hunter Classic
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$500 “Shogun” Adult Hunter Classic
FRIDAY NIGHT (not before 6 p.m.)
$1,500 IBM Silver Stirrup Classic – 2’6″
SATURDAY:
$500 “Scribbles” Pony Hunter Classic
SATURDAY NIGHT (not before 6 p.m.):
$2,500 Johnson Horse Transportation USHJA National Classic
$2,500 Up The Creek Children’s/Adult Jumper Classic
$1,000 Stephen Comunale Low Children’s/Adult Jumper Classic
SUNDAY:
$1,000 Up The Creek Junior Hunter Classic
$500 “Say Hey” Children’s Hunter Classic
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.
VIP SEATING: Blue Carpet Club and Box Seating are available. The Blue Carpet Club offers tables overlooking the ring from the balcony. Only six tables are available, so please make reservations early. Tables are $200 for a table of six Wednesday – Sunday Afternoon. Box seats offer the most superior seating choice available; the closest to the action ringside. Box seats are $500 for Wednesday – Sunday Afternoon. All Boxes include seating for six. Payment and order forms should be sent to: BIHS Blue Carpet Club and Box Seating, 950 Amherst Street, Buffalo, NY 14216.
VENDOR/TRADE: Champion awards are sponsored by EMO Insurance. Prizes for reserve champions are donated by The Hunting Horn of Penfield, NY, who is also the vendor for the horse show. Ribbons have been donated by HSBC Bank USA.
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. Follow 198 until the Route 384 North/Delaware Ave exit. At the stop light, turn right and immediately turn left at the next light, which puts you on Delaware Ave. Follow Delaware Ave. until Amherst Street. Turn left on Amherst Street, travel less 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 Equestrian 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 120×90 riding arena, stables, paddocks and an outdoor riding ring. The spectacular barn offers permanent stalls for all horse show participants.
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The Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center has been the site of a therapeutic riding program for seven 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 Libby McNabb, an instructor registered with the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association, Inc. (NARHA) and with Special Olympics. 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, hosts a summer camp, and is now a member of the IEA (Interscholastic Equestrian Association), where members of area middle schools and area high schools compete as a team at IEA shows in New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Lessons are given all year Tuesday through Sunday.
SBS Farms is also part of The BTRC, and Susan Schoellkopf is the owner. Susie serves as chairman of the Zone 2 committee, the chairman of the Open Hunter Task Force, she is a member of the Junior Hunter Task Force and the D&M committee. Susie is also an “R” rated hunter judge. Jennifer Alfano is the trainer for SBS. She is a two time World Hunter Rider Champion, she has won the International Hunter Derby Series for the past two years aboard Jersey Boy, and has won several USEF Horse of the Year awards. Jennifer has trained top amateur, junior and pony riders.
CONTACT:
Buffalo International Horse Show
950 Amherst St.
Buffalo, NY 14216
716-877-9295 (phone)
716-877-4001 (fax) sbeat@aol.com
www.ryegate.com/BTRC/index.htm
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561-753-3389 (phone)
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