Ocala, FL – February 19, 2014 – SBS Farms, Inc. rode to the top of the standings during HITS V Ocala Winter Festival last week. The bay Brandenberger mare, Maggie May, continues to make a name for herself as Jennifer Alfano guides her to the top of the ranks, this week snatching the Second Year Green Working Hunter Championship. The farms’ success only continued as Alfano swept the Green Conformation division with her own Candid, and Alex Trolli rode to the top of the Antares Children’s Horse 15-17 Hunter division aboard two mounts.

Maggie May, owned by Billie Steffee, became the talk of the circuit last winter as she dominated both Jacksonville and Ocala. Their debut proved consistency as the young mare shows her talents with Alfano once again in the irons for the Second Year Working Hunter division. They rode to two first place finishes over fences; also collecting two third place ribbons. Maggie May continued to impress with her finesse during the under saddle, placing at the top of the class and claiming the championship.

“Maggie May has grown into a wonderful horse, she is very special,” Alfano said. “Everything has come together, and she has become so rideable. She has an exceptionally big stride, which is great, but it took her a long time to really get it all together. We spent the last two years making her more consistent. She is a really special horse.”

Alfano also showed her own Candid in the Green Conformation Hunters, sweeping the division with the chestnut to take the tricolor. The winner’s circle is no new stage for Candid, having ridden to the top of the USHJA Pre-Green Incentive Program in 2013.

Alex Trolli guided Del Piero, owned by Doreen Toben, to the Antares Children’s 15-17 Hunter Horse Championship, sweeping the over fences. She also rode the Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center’s Lolito to good ribbons. Her streak continued as she placed in second aboard Del Piero, and third with Lolito in the $500 M&S/NAL Hunter Classic. Jennifer Basile guided Play More to the Adult 36-45 Hunter division’s second and third place ribbons over fences, as well as earning a seventh place in the  $5,000 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix.

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. 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.