Kacey McCann Takes Blue Ribbon in WIHS Equitation Classic

Devon, PA - After an emotional retirement ceremony on Monday for her successful mount GG Valentine, Jennifer Alfano came back into the winner's circle this week at the prestigious Devon Horse Show. She piloted Rock Star for Bright Star 158 LLC and Jennifer Burger to the championship in the Second Year Green Working Hunters. Rock Star received two seconds, a third and fourth over fences to win the championship. Alfano is the trainer and rider for SBS Farms Inc. and Susie Schoellkopf of Buffalo, NY.

Alfano found Rock Star, an eight-year-old Warmblood gelding, through trainer Louise Serio, and this is their second year together. "He's really coming into his own this year. He sort of got overlooked last year. He needed bigger jumps and more of a challenge. He was great in Florida. I was hoping this would be his year," Alfano mentioned.

This was Rock Star's first time showing at Devon. "He's a very easygoing horse and nothing really bothers him. I would say the first day he was a little different. Each day he got better and better. Today he was unbelievable," Alfano remarked.

Alfano also piloted Once and Again for Meredith Lipke Bartolone to ribbons in the Regular Working Hunters.

Junior rider Kacey McCann (16) of Palmyra, PA, was another winner from SBS Farms. On Comanche, McCann was the winner of a section of the Washington International Horse Show Equitation Classic. The equitation divisions are always full of stiff competition at Devon, and McCann's blue ribbon was an impressive one.

In addition to the equitation, McCann competed in the junior hunter divisions. On Mustique, owned by Don Stewart Jr., she was third in the Small Junior 16-17 Hunter handy class and second in the stake class. With Caroline Weingart's Chloe Z, McCann was third in the Large Junior 16-17 Hunter handy class.

For more information on SBS Farms, please visit www.thebtrc.org.

Photo Credit: Devon Horse Show Second Year Green Hunter champions Rock Star, Jennifer Alfano and owner Jennifer Burger. Photo (C) 2007 Jennifer Wood.