Gigi Manigault and Major Key
Weeks 2, 3 and 4 of the Winter Equestrian Festival circuit brought continued success for Finally Farm riders and horses, January 14-February 2, in Wellington, Florida.
Highlights included Gigi Manigault’s return to the show ring during Week 3 with her mounts Major Key and Bastille. Gigi started out strongly, winning a class on Bastille.
“It’s great for her to be in the amateur ring and doing so well,” said trainer Liza Boyd. “She’s at a new school this year and balancing a lot, so I’m super impressed that she walked right into 3’6” Amateurs and get great ribbons. Her horses are going beautifully, and she came down and rode great. Fortunately, she also has a nice practice horse named Big Bang, and she showed him in the 3’3” Performance Hunters on Thursday, which is always helpful. I give him a lot of credit for helping her become prepared.”
Clemens returned to the show ring after a significant break and jumped to two red ribbons in the High Performance section Week 3 and the $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby during Week 4, where he placed ninth out of 61.
“He was a little rusty the first week, but the following week we did the High Performance Hunters and he was great. We haven’t jumped that big in two years, so I was really pleased,” said Liza.
Clemens, owned by Finally Farm and Westerly Farm, last competed at the 2018 USHJA International Hunter Derby Championships and then spent time off recovering from an injury.
“It was great to show him again and figure out what we need to work on,” she noted. “You don’t really know your homework until you get back into the show ring. So, now I know we need to work on trot jumps; we haven’t done many trot jumps, so I’ll focus on improving them and go from there. He’s jumping really well, and I’m so happy to have him back!”
Grace Ann Nolan continued to hone her skills and accrue ribbons aboard her hunters and jumpers. She and Malbay Dreamer captured the Week 3 Low Adult Amateur Jumper, 18-35, championship and she received excellent ribbons on Kumano in the 3’3” Amateur-Owner, 18-35, section and with Sonoma in the Adult Amateurs.
“Grace Ann is really getting nicely into the swing of things in both rings,” said Liza. “She’s riding great.”
Mary Caroline Nolan and Stallone
Similarly, sister Mary Caroline Nolan earned ribbons on O’Ryan in the Younger Children’s Hunters and Timoteo in the 3’ USHJA Hunters and Stallone in the 3’3” Junior Hunters. “She was really impressive in the Rost Arena,” said Liza. “The 3’3” courses were the same at the 3’6", so she’s learning how to ride the handles, angling the jumps and all of the technicalities. She hadn’t done the hands since she was on ponies, so it’s been a super experience for her.”
Maggie Hill continued to fine-tune her relationship with the 3’6” Green Hunter Ravello. The pair earned ribbons in the Junior Hunters during Weeks 2 and 3 before Maggie brought out her veteran Cassanto to capture the 3’6” Large Junior, 16-17, reserve championship during Week 4. Ravello was also 3’6” Green Hunter reserve champion with Liza during Week 2.
Maggie Hill and Ravello
“Maggie went from O’Ryan who’s a steady eddy and knew everything, to a first year Small Junior, so she’s learning to adapt to his ways,” said Liza. “It can be overwhelming down here, and some days the young horses are good and some days green. He’s teaching her that next level of learning and how to manage a young one.”
Ellle Boyd and Sugarbrook Pink-N-Blue won a class during Week 2 in the Medium Pony Hunters and continued the momentum with excellent ribbons during Week 3. “It was her first blue with ‘Darla’ at WEF, which was great,” said Liza. “The numbers are so big down here, with 35 in the division, that it was exciting for her to win. She’s working so hard.
Elle and Adeline Boyd with Baby Blue
“It’s nice for her to be able to have her a Small Pony Baby Blue go in the ring first and navigate the course,” added Liza. “Darla is great and teaching Elle so much. Darla has more ‘go’ than Baby Blye, so Elle is learning how to ride both types. She sits quieter on Darla and use a lot of leg on Baby Blue.”
Maggie Hill and her For Side VDL have racked up some impressive ribbons in the equitation ring so far, including second Overall in the WIHS, with second in both the Hunter and Jumper phases during Week 2. “That’s a young horse she produced, so it’s been fun to see him coming along so well,” said Liza.
Likewise, Bridget Hallman and her Green Hunters have been impressive at WEF. Bridget won an Amateur-Owner class during Week 2 on Who’s It and also earned many great ribbons thus far.
“She’s riding great,” said Liza of Bridget. “She was super smooth in the class she won. She’s had Who’s It about a year, and they’re such a good match.”
Liza has also earned top prizes aboard Bridget’s Halston in the High Performance Conformation Hunters, with scores in the high 80s throughout the circuit.
