Buffalo, NY - September 19, 2004 - The 58th Buffalo International Horse Show came to a close today when Kacey McCann of Palmyra, PA was named Best Child Rider after a morning of tough equitation classes. Located at the Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center in upstate New York, this sporting event ran from September 15 to 19. The Center is located on 950 Amherst Street, a short distance from the NY Thruway.

Last night, after capturing the Junior Hunter 15 & Under Championship, the Junior Hunter 15 & Under Reserve Championship, and the overall Grand Junior Hunter Championship on Barbara Kearney's horses ‘Paddington' and ‘Shogun', McCann set her sights on today's equitation classes. On her own horse ‘My Way', a 16.3 hand, bay 7 year-old Warmblood gelding, McCann took the blue in the prestigious ASPCA Maclay class and the HBO Junior Medal, as well as the overall title in the Tad Coffin Saddles WIHS Medal. This gives her a head start on the 2005 show season, as these classes count for next year's points.

"This whole show was a great experience for me," quietly stated McCann. "I love being able to ride so many different horses. This sport is truly about having fun and improving your horsemanship." McCann and her horses are trained by Buffalo's Jennifer Alfano. "It has been wonderful working with Jennifer to bring ‘My Way' along. He's still a young horse and has made incredible strides to being more mature this year."

"Riding on Saturday night before a full crowd of spectators helped me prepare for the big fall finals we are attending," continued McCann. "I really got a lift jumping in front of so many people." On Monday, September 20, she leaves for the Marshall & Sterling Finals in Worcester, MA. A few weeks after that, McCann will compete in the Pessoa USEF Medal Finals in Harrisburg, PA at the venerable Pennsylvania National Horse Show.

In other equitation action, Ashton Belcher of King City, Ontario galloped to victory in the Canadian Equestrian Federation (CEF) Medal. Ashlyn Teevelyan, also of King City, Ontario, took home the blue ribbon in the Pessoa USEF Medal class. Both riders are trained by Mark Hayes.

The top spot in last night's $1,000 Children's/Adult Jumper Classic went to ‘I Got Lucky' and Amber Thompson of Williamsville, NY. The red ribbon for second place was awarded to ‘Mick O Angelo', owned by Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center and piloted by Kacey McCann.

"We had a great horse show and were pleased to make the step up to an ‘AA' rating from the US Equestrian Federation," stated Susan B. Schoellkopf, Executive Director of the Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center and Buffalo Equestrian Center. "Next year, we will fine-tune the prize list to respond to some customer feedback, and we'll change the time schedule a bit to ease up on the length of the day on Saturday. Other than that, we're going with the same format, as people really enjoyed the competition."

The host facility of the Buffalo International Horse Show is the Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center (BTRC). Built in 1921, it was then named the Buffalo Saddle and Bridle Club and served as a facility for arena polo. A nonprofit organization, the BTRC provides vital services to differently-abled youth riders. The use of horses has long been proven as an excellent therapeutic method of assisting people with both physical and mental challenges to improve the quality of their lives. Some of the benefits of therapeutic riding include increased physical strength and stamina, a greater range of motion combined with the development of balance and posture, improvement of communication and social skills along with an increased attention span, and most importantly of all, an overall boost to confidence and self-esteem. The Buffalo International Horse Show benefits the BTRC, and is one of the largest fundraisers for the program.

For further information about events at the Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center or to make a donation, please contact Erin Wisler at (716) 877-9295. You can also visit and learn more online at http://ryegate.com/BTRC/index.htm.

Photo Credit: Randi Muster