Mary Caroline Nolan and O’Ryan
Finally Farm wrapped up the year not with endings but with beginnings!
“There were a lot of firsts at the Aiken December Classic,” said trainer Liza Boyd of the 2019-2020 show season kick-off competition held at Bruce’s Field in Aiken, South Carolina.
Many new partnerships made their show ring debuts together, including 13-year-old Mary Caroline Nolan and O’Ryan.
“She’s the new rider of O’Ryan and one lucky girl,” said Liza of Maggie Hill’s former star Junior Hunter. “Mary Caroline was riding a large pony last summer at the USEF Pony Finals, so she’s not ridden horses that long. She was champion on O’Ryan and reserve on Timoteo in the Children’s Hunter, 14 and under, section. It was a great start for them, and we’re thrilled to keep him in the barn and watch him bring on another kid.”
Mary Caroline’s sister Grace Ann Nolan made her show ring debut in the Amateurs, as did Gigi Manigault. Both made a seamless transition and continued their winning ways.
Grace Ann rode Malbay Dreamer to two seconds in the Low Children’s/Adult Jumpers for the reserve championship and also received excellent ribbons on Sonoma in the Adult Amateur Hunters to earn a second reserve championship.
Gigi guided Major Key to top ribbons in the Amateur-Owner Hunters, including a blue over fences and second place in the $1,000 Amateur-Owner Hunter Classic. She also piloted new mount Big Bang to ribbons in the 3’3” Performance Hunters.
Elle Gibbs with Candid and Game Plan
“Sometimes kids are like, ‘This is my last junior year, and my career is over!’ But, really, it’s just beginning,” said Liza. “After all these years of showing, Gigi had no idea that she had more opportunities as an amateur. She and Grace can do the Amateurs, the Adults, Derbies and so much more.”
Maggie Hill also made a show ring debut aboard her new Junior Hunter Ravello. “This was their first time at the 3’6” and her first time showing him. He was champion in 3’6” Greens with me and champion in Junior Hunters with her. It was fun to show him at the bigger height. We jumped him a little bigger in the schooling area, and he showed some real scope in the handy. He’s little, but he has some power, so it will be fun to see where he goes and for Maggie to grow with him.”
Elle Gibbs leased Jennifer Alfano’s Candid for the year, and they began their Junior Hunter partnership at Aiken. She earned the championship with Candid and reserve with Game Plan.
“We are so excited for this duo,” said Liza. “Candid has had a lot of great years with Jen, and he’s ready to be a Junior Hunter. We’re very excited to have him in the barn with Elle. They were a good match right from the beginning, and he quite likes her. He’s a quiet horse, but he can take a minute to get in front of leg on the flat. But she figured that out right away. He’s also a little shy in the barn, so she spent time with him and got to know him, and he fits right in.”
Liza also had reason to smile at Aiken as her derby mount Clemens, owned by Finally Farm and Westerly Farm, returned to the show ring after time off for an injury. “He could have come back in August, but at that point there was nothing left for him to do the rest of the year so we waited until the new year,” she said. “Our game plan was to get a show under his belt at 3’3” before the Winter Equestrian Festival (in Florida). We’ll gear him back up and have him ready for WEF 4.”
Liza and Clemens took the victory in the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby to punctuate their return. “I’m so glad to have him back; he feels great,” she said. “The last time he was shown was the USHJA International Hunter Derby Championships when he was second. I did one ticketed warm-up and one 3’6” Performance class and then did the National Derby. It was a great class for all types of horses. It was held in the late afternoon/early evening and it was great to get him back in the ring and good for him to be under pressure again at an event with some atmosphere.”
Liza also guided For Side VDL to seventh in the National Derby. “We did that class also for the time of day. He’s a Hunter/Equitation horse and is always good in the handy round. Maggie wants to save her Medal/Maclay classes for later in the year, so it was good for him to get the experience and a good ribbon.”
Erin McGuire and Kassar entered their eighth show season together and continued their top performances. The pair placed second in Open Jumper Welcome and t he were second in the $10,000 Dietrich Insurance Classic for a nice payday.
“She was awesome. Jack (Towell) was really proud of her,” said Liza. “There were 13 clear in the prix, and she rode great and was super fast. She does such a good job managing that horse and picks and chooses and peaks him at the right times. She won’t show again for a while—maybe a little in the winter and get back going when we get home from WEF in the spring. She does a great job of keeping him fit and happy.”
Liza’s daughter Elle had ample success in the ponies with A Dream Come True, Sugarbrook Pink-N-Blue and Baby Blue. Elle and DK-USA Sporthorse LLC’s A Dream Come True captured the reserve championship in the Small Pony Hunters with help from trainer Rachel Kennedy, as well.
Elle Boyd and Rachel Kennedy with A Dream Come True
A Dream Come True is Elle’s newest ride. “I think that we have him and Baby Blue for the. Smalls this year,” said Liza. “I’m so excited for Elle. There’s nothing better than these veteran ponies to teach riders. He has a great personality and is really great in the handy classes. She went for it in the handy with him. Before, she would go around, and now she’s doing the inside turns and he’s teaching her a lot about landing the leads and doing the inside turns.”
Hakuna Matata and Mckenzie Miller earned the reserve championship in the Short Stirrup section. Mckenzie was riding Otis Spunkmeyer around crossrails last year, and now she’s taking lessons with Elle and learning the technicalities,” said Liza. “She’s come a long way really quickly.”
Finally Farm also welcomed Invite Only and 15-year-old Alex Dastjerdi to the family. The pair earned ribbons in the Pre-Children’s and medal classes. “Congratulations on your new horse leased from Amanda Lyerly!” said Liza. “We look forward to your future in 2020!”
Kelly Maloney and Oakmont Stables LLC’s Corona 93 galloped to impressive placings in the High Adult Jumpers as they got to know one another. “Kelly has one of Hardin’s old grand prix horses because her horse is injured. We’re wishing her a good Florida season with this fun mare.”
Bridget Hallman’s Halston making 2020 already a winning year!
Liza took a side trip to Wellington during the holiday season to give Bridget Hallman lessons and show her horses during pre-circuit. “I hadn’t seen her since the Washington International in October. Halston was champion in the Conformation division and Who’s It was champion in the 3’6”/3’9” Greens. We had a lot of fun!”
