The Finally Farm team spent the week of the July 4th holiday attending the Tryon Summer 2, held July 1-5 in Spring Mill, North Carolina. In addition to celebrating the Nation's birthday, Finally Farm riders also collected some red, white and blue ribbons of their own.
In the 3'3" Junior Hunters, it was a Finally Farm sweep as Trinity, Maraschino and Quatrain dominated the section, taking most of the top ribbons, including the championship and reserve.
Trinity with Taylor St. Jacques, left, and Maraschino and Lily Bennett
With several riders on vacation with their families, Finally Farm welcomed catch riders Taylor St. Jacques and Caroline Passarelli who earned championship results with Trinity and Highlands Heaven Sent, respectively.
"I want to send a big thank-you to Heritage Farm for sharing their riders with us," said trainer Liza Boyd. "Both girls are talented and very appreciative for the rides and a pleasure to teach."
Liza also praised Lily Bennett for her consistency and the reserve championship with Maraschino in the Juniors. "At this time last year the mare was a First Year Green horse, so she's still green compared to many other Junior hunters out there," said Liza. "This year she's more made up, and Lily has matured in her riding. She's making great decisions and starting to understand the technicalities of riding a Junior hunter."
Liza also credited Laura Critz for her skill aboard Quatrain. In addition to nice ribbons in the Juniors, Laura also won the Performance 3'3" Handy Hunter class on Quatrain. "She wanted to practice the handy before the weekend, and she went in there and ended up beating everyone," said Liza proudly. "She jogged in there in front of all the professionals, and it gave her a great confidence boost. That win made Quatrain reserve champion, too, and that’s because of her and not me!"
In the Pony Ring, Finally Farm collected a variety of wins and tricolors. Zola Thompson was reserve champion in the Small Pony Hunters and won the Small/Large Pony Classic on Mr. McGregor. Highlands Heaven Sent earned the Medium Pony Hunter championship with Caroline Passarelli, and Teresa Tolar guided Kinda Funny to nice ribbons in the Large Pony Hunters.
After a five-month break from the saddle to work in Washington, D.C., as a page, Alley Milam returned to the show ring to earn excellent ribbons aboard Castelli. "She was great," said Liza. "Alley walked right back in to the 3'6" Juniors and didn't miss a beat. It's good to have her back!"
Chestnut Avenue switched riders and divisions at Tryon but continued his winning ways, carrying Meg Atkinson to the Adult Amateur, 36 and over, championship and the blue ribbon in the NAL/WIHS Adult Amateur Hunter Classic. Owner Joann Loheac was on the sidelines cheering them on.
"Meg helped Joann decorate her house, and in return she got a weekend on a really fancy hunter," said Liza laughing. "It was a barter situation of the best kind! Meg had never shown him before, but they got along great.. Joann will take over the reins next week."
Maggie Hill aboard Nevada with Margie, Liza and Elle Boyd.
Nevada and Maggie Hill also won their respective section championship and classic, taking victory in the Pre-Children's Hunters. Maggie's trainer and Liza's sister-in-law, Margie Boyd, of Jackson Hole, Wyoming, was also on-hand to cheer her on.
"Maggie has come a long way from her background in eventing and dressage to winning in the hunters," said Liza. "She started in April with us and is already super competitive and really learned the hunter style. It's fun to have Nevada back in the barn, too. We had him many years ago for Katie Dawson and then Bruce Ducchossois and Caroline Clark. He's a great horse."
Maddy Thatcher is enjoying her summer break from college and taking advantage of more riding time. At Tryon, she collected a variety of top ribbons in the Hunters and Jumpers aboard her mounts, including Sterling, Scripted, Summer Place, Lancelot 266, Skilliane De Varnel, Show Show, Balvino and Dolce Vita.
"Maddy had a really good show," said Liza. "She rode great and was reserve champion on Sterling in the 3'3" Amateur-Owners and was second in the Classic. She also won the 3'6" Classic aboard Summer Place. She earned top ribbons in the Low and High Junior/Amateurs and was clean aboard Show Show in the High Classic, which was held in the George H. Morris international Ring. She's riding so consistently and is in the ribbons in almost every class on all of her horses."
Other ribbon winners for Finally Farm included Grace Howard and Hi Ho Houdini in the Children's Jumpers, Justified and Kelly Maloney in the Low Adult Jumpers, and Tamara Berkowitz rode Graffiti and Just Matt to ribbons in the Performance Hunters and Take 2 Thoroughbred Hunters, respectively.
Finally Farm would also like to welcome Virginia Barnette, of Columbia, South Carolina, to the barn. In their first show with Finally Farm, Virginia and Rigo Barcardi picked up excellent ribbons in the Pre-Adult Hunters. Finally Farm also welcomed Elly Ficca to the barn in June for the Atlanta Summer Classic Horse Show. She guided It's All Good to excellent ribbons in the Medium Pony Hunter section. Thank you both for joining us!
Special thanks to the Finally Farm photographers for the fun photos!
Finally Farm also congratulates Hardin Towell for his continued success at Spruce Meadows in Calgary, Alberta. During the North American Tournament CSI*5, June 30-July 5, Hardin qualified for the $400,000 ATCO Power Queen Elizabeth II Cup, the featured FEI class of the competition, where he placed 14th aboard Jennifer Gates' Emilie De Diamant AS, with just one rail down. Earlier in the week, the pair placed second in the $50,000 AON Cup as well with a double-clear performance. Great job!
