Finally Farm enjoyed the new fall season shows at Bruce’s Field in Aiken, South Carolina in October, and they couldn’t have been more fun! In addition to adding more wins and accolades to the year’s collection, the riders spent some creative time preparing for the Halloween festivities.
And that hard work and left brain activity paid off with multiple wins!
Adeline Boyd captured the Individual Costume class victory riding Amy Nolan’s Little Boy Blue. “She was so proud of herself. It was her big win,” said mother and trainer Liza Boyd. “She rode the adorable green pony Elle showed, and Amy dressed him up with cobwebs and bats. It was so cute!”
Big sister Elle Boyd contested the group class with her friends. They dressed their ponies as Starbucks baristas and the kids were the frappacinos. Their amazing efforts resulted in the Group Costume Class victory!
“Then, Amy and Theresa Tolar who works for us, stayed up late and decorated the tack room, so we were one of the winners,'“ added Liza. “Theresa meets us at the horse shows now and rides and teaches. She lives in the Tryon area and has her own barn. She rode with us as a kid, and it’s fun having her back to help.”
The Finally Farm team also added a few new faces to the roster this fall, with students from the University of South Carolina and College of Charleston honing their skills with trainers Jack Towell and Liza in between classes and riding on their respective equestrian teams.
Joey Rose, of USC, rode Cassino to the 3’6” Amateur-Owner Hunter championship, and Sydney DeGrazia, of USC, and her own Reveille Z put in consistent efforts to clinch the 3’3” Amateur-Owner Hunter reserve championship honors. Sydney also won the Ariat Adult Medal aboard Reveille Z. In addition, Joey earned tricolor honors with championship honors aboard Cracker Jack in the Adult Amateur, 18-35, section, and Camilla Grover-Dodge, of CofC, took the reserve championship aboard Jaguar.
Joey Rose and Cassino received the 3’6” Amateur-Owner Grand Championship
“These kids come out and lesson a few times a week. It’s super fun to have them. They ride on their teams but come to Finally Farm since it’s close enough from Columbia and Charleston. When we show at Aiken, it’s so close that the kids from USC can come down and do ticketed warm-ups during the week and then show on the weekends,” said Liza.
Camilla Grover-Dodge and Jaguar and Joey Rose and Cracker Jack
Camilla, the newest arrival from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, comes from a successful eventing background. She trained with Phillip Dutton and Molly Kinnamon and won the Area II Training Young Riders Championships. Additionally, she became the youngest rider to win the Junior Olympics 1* eventing title and then won the 1* Eventing Individual and Team Gold medals for Area II at the 2015 North American Junior and Young Rider Championships.
“We welcome Camilla to the barn and look forward to helping her get back into the hunters and work with her Pre-Green Hunter,” said Liza.
Grace Ann Nolan also attends CofC and had a successful show at Aiken, winning multiple Children’s/Adult Jumper classes aboard Malbay Dreamer and Bolero D’Armanville, respectively.
Sister Mary Caroline Nolan took top ribbons with Cleopatra’s Smile and O’Ryan in the 3’3” Small Juniors and Kumano in the 3’3” Large Junior Hunters.
Gigi Manigault, who will attend USC next year, topped the Amateur-Owner Hunter Classic riding Walk-Off. They also earned top ribbons in the section.
In the Adult Amateur Hunter, 50 and over, section, Amy Nolan rode Sampson to the reserve championship with two blue ribbons over fences among other excellent placings.
Elle Boyd continued her Medium Pony Hunter tricolor streak with Sugarbrook Pink-N-Blue. The pair earned three firsts and two seconds in the section to dominate over a competitive field. Elle and “Darla” also placed third in Pony Hunter Classic, and Elle was second aboard Bridget Hallman’s Days Of Our Lives.
“It was a great horse show, and the management did such a wonderful job with the social distancing, yet having parties and allowing us all to enjoy life back to “almost” normal,” said Liza with a smile.
Adeline Boyd wins the Individual Costume Class with judges Ron Danta and Danny Robertshaw and mom Liza.
Cassino and Joey Rose were champions in the 3’6” Amateur-Owner Hunters.
Sydney DeGrazia and Reveille Z earned the reserve championship in the 3’3” Amateur-Owner Hunters.
Honorable mention in the Costume Class went to Grace Ann “Carole Baskins” Nolan and Malbay Dreamer.
Adeline Boyd and Little Boy Blue
