Jenna Drago and Emma Walters Tie for Grand Junior Hunter Champion on Closing Day of 73rd Annual Buffalo International Horse Show

Buffalo, NY – Sept. 14, 2019 – On the final day of the 73rd Buffalo international Horse Show (BIHS) at the Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center(BTCR), junior, children’s and pony riders were in the spotlight as their divisions concluded and champions were named, including the Grand Junior Hunter champion. Jenna Drago and Sandrino and Emma Walters on Crisp tied for the top prize after winning almost every class in their respective divisions.

Emma Walters and Crisp. Photo: Jess Windhurst Photography

Drago and Peter Pletcher’s Sandrino won the first over fences of the Junior Hunter 3’6″ and the under saddle. Their second place finish in the handy round helped them to secure the championship. In the Junior Hunter 3’3″, Walters and Crisp won their handy round and under saddle class with a second place finish in the first over fences round to earn them champion of their division.

Jenna Drago and Sandrino. Photo: Jess Windhurst Photography

In the Children’s Hunter 14 and Under division, Sydney Steffee piloted Alex Trolli’s Del Piero to two wins in the over fences, including the classic round to be named champion of the division. Alexandra Smith and the BTRC’s Hey Sailor won the classic round and placed third in the first over fences to earn the reserve champion spot. In the Pre-Children’s 2’6 Hunter division, Linnea Garrison and the BTRC’s Copyright placed first in one of the over fences and earned a pair of white ribbons in the classic round and under saddle classes, enough to secure the tricolor ribbon.

Sydney Steffee and Del Piero. Photo: Jess Windhurst Photography

In the Pre-Adult 2’6″ Hunter division, Stephanie Brennan rode the Churchill, owned by the BTRC, to the champion ribbon after winning the classic round, as well as a second place in the over fences and a fourth place in the under saddle. Brennan and Churchill were the victors of the $500 Johnson Horse Transportation Silver Stirrup Classic followed by Sophia Meyer on the BTRC’s Campesino IV in second place and Karissa Bosh piloted her Sophisticated to the yellow ribbon.

In the Children’s Pony Hunter division, Kaia Morejon rode Kelly McEloy’s Varsity Blues to a second place in the under saddle and a first place in the classic round to earn the championship ribbon. The Children’s Pony Hunters and the Children’s Hunters riders competed against one another for the $500 Say Hey Children’s Hunter/Children’s Pony Hunter Classic. Sydney Steffee and Del Piero once again topped their competitors to take the win. Steffee also rode the BTRC’s Peron to the second position. Morejon aboard Varsity Blues rounded out the top three.

Kaia Morejon and Varsity Blues

Stephanie Brennan and Chuchill