Source:  PMG Inc./Rebecca Walton/Kendall Bierer

Hugh Kincannon Honored with USHJA's President's Distinguished Service Award

Lexington, KY - December 12, 2011 - On December 6, 2011, Hugh Kincannon of Kentucky Horse Shows, LLC, was recognized at the United States Hunter Jumper Association's Evening of Equestrians Awards Dinner. Kincannon received the President's Distinguished Service Award for his management of USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals, the USEF Pony Finals, and the Alltech National Horse Show, 128th Edition. The USHJA presented the award to Kincannon for his dedication to these events, and his efforts to always go above and beyond to make them a success.

In 2006, USHJA created a new award category, the USHJA President's Distinguished Service Awards. These awards were developed by the President and staff to recognize and honor the dedication and service by members to USHJA and our sport. The staff and President reviewed the programs of USHJA, as well as the work involved in developing and implementing them, and those individuals who have gone beyond the call of duty to bring our sport to a new level and to benefit our membership.

These awards are presented annually at the USHJA Evening of Equestrians Awards Dinner. The recipients of these awards remain a surprise until the night of the presentations. Kincannon was not able to attend the event and Marion Maybank accepted the award on his behalf.

"Receiving this award is very gratifying," noted Kincannon. "We're very happy to have the opportunity to be involved with those very special events. A large part of it is the fact that we have the best place to do those events, the Kentucky Horse Park. I think it's a combination of many factors that makes my job so much easier. It includes my talented staff, the facility, and the cooperation of the groups for whom we are producing those events."

Kincannon is the founder of Kentucky Horse Shows, LLC, one of the leading horse show management companies in the nation, and is pleased to announce the dates for the 2012 horse show season. Featuring "AA"-rated hunter/jumper competition throughout the spring and summer at the picturesque Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY, these events draw the country's top horse and rider combinations each year.

For more information on Kentucky Horse Shows LLC please visit www.kentuckyhorseshows.com.

Photo Credit: Hugh Kincannon received the USHJA's President's Distinguished Service Award. Photo By: Kenneth Kraus/PhelpsSports.

Photo Credit: Marion Maybank accepted the USHJA's President's Distinguished Service Award for Hugh Kincannon. Photo By: Tricia Booker.

Helen Lenahan Awarded the Mrs. A.C. Randolph Owners Legacy Award

The 2011 United States Hunter Jumper Association Evening of Equestrians Program sponsored by the USHJA Foundation, honored the top riders, owners and trainers on Tuesday, December 6, 2011 at the Roosevelt Hotel in New Orleans, LA. SBS Farms' Helen Lenahan was awarded the Mrs. A.C. Randolph Owners Legacy Award for being recognized as a true "patron" of the hunter/jumper industry.

Lenahan has a truly remarkable history when it comes to the equestrian industry. Her resume includes owning and showing 3-gaited and 5-gaited champions, generating side saddle champions, producing champion driving ponies and dedicating years of participation to the annual George H. Morris Clinic held at the Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center.

Her generosity to the sport is profound, and her legacy is seen in the many great horses she has helped along as well as the support she has given juniors and professionals alike. Three of her horses have won the USEF Horse of the Year Award: Roses are Red, Logically and Gabriel with numerous championship wins at the Devon Horse Show, Capital Challenge, Washington International and the National Horse Show. Her other horses with abundant accolades include Extraordinary, Beau Geste, Red Onion, Spotted Owl, Night Owl, Diamond Girl, Violets are Blue, Gandolf, Sting, Striking, Abbreviation, Maqua, Dream Bay, Candy Kid and Changing Times. Two of Lenahan's side saddle horses garnered championship honors at the top shows, Striking and Changing Times. This year, Miss Lucy was the USEF Second Year Green Working Hunter Reserve National Champion for her total points earned.

Although Lenahan was unable to attend the convention, Susie Schoellkopf accepted on her behalf. "Helen has done it all," she described. "She is very sad that she couldn't attend the ceremony and accept the award, but she is so honored. She is a class act and an amazing friend."

 The Mrs. A.C. Randolph Owners Legacy award was established by the USHJA Owners Task Force in 2011 to acknowledge a past or current owner who has been, or is a true "patron" of the hunter/jumper industry. The award honors one owner who has created a legacy of giving back to the hunter/jumper sport through continued dedication and support. Lenahan's name will be the first engraved on the Mrs. A.C. Randolph bronze.

Schoellkopf thanked the owners, the committee and Sue Bopp for the award, as well as the many others who have been a part of Helen Lenahan's success: Conrad Homfeld, Jennifer Alfano, Gary Ryman, Brian Flynn, Ben O'Conner, Molly Ashe, Louise Serio, Kevin Lenahan, Jenny Fisher, Lauren Gioia, Joe Darby, Jane Gaston, Buddy Brown, George Morris, Frank Willard and Allan Smith.

"Ralph Caristo once said to me-all of us as trainers will only have one great owner in our career," Schoellkopf described. "Helen is mine."

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. Adding to their numerous accolades, Schoellkopf and Alfano both recently received prestigious awards; Schoellkopf was presented with the USHJA Presidents Distinguished Service Award, while Alfano was the highest grossing Hunter Rider in the country, as she earned over $400,000 last year.

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.

Photo Credit: Helen Lenahan's participation and dedication to the equestrian sport has been nothing short of amazing, she was awarded the Mrs. A.C. Randolph Owners Legacy Award at the USHJA Evening of Equestrians Program. All Photos courtesy of the USHJA.

Photo Credit: Susie Schoellkopf accepts Helen Lenahan's Mrs. A.C. Randolph Owners Legacy Award at the USHJA Evening of Equestrians Program. Photo courtesy of the USHJA.