Right from the start of the Winter Equestrian Festival circuit in Wellington, Florida, in January the Finally Farm team made their presence known from the open hunters to juniors to ponies and even over in the jumper rings.
WEF 1 got underway with Gigi’s Manigault’s Walk-Off kicking off his season with the reserve champion honors in the 3’9” Green Hunters with Liza Boyd aboard.
Gigi wasn’t without her own accolades early on. She rode Wizard of Odds to first and second over fences, which helped them earn the Adult Equitation championship during WEF 2. Gigi also won the NHS/THIS Adult Medal during WEF 4 over a competitive field of riders and scored another Adult Equitation champion during WEF 5.
Gigi Manigault and Walk-Off
Meredith Huddle and Money Penny added another impressive ribbon to the Finally Farm banner with an efficient double clear to secure ninth in the Low Adult Jumper Classic during WEF 2. They continued to solidify their partnership with a competitive double clear for fourth in the older Low Adult Jumper Classic during WEF 4.
Mary Caroline Nolan made a seamless move up to the 3’6” Juniors with the handy win on Exclusive and several scores in the 80s on both “Clu” and Golden Years during WEF 2.
Rebekah Warren’s MTM Hand Him Over made his derby debut a stunning one with a competitive fourth place finish in the $25,000 Hunt-and-Go format. “Handy” also topped both of Wednesday’s High Performance classes over fences for a great week.
Grace Ann Nolan was reserve champion on her super horse Malbay Dreamer in the Low Adult Jumper, 18-35, section and did the same on Bolero D’Armanville in the High Adult Jumpers during WEF 4.
Poncho and Parker, Felix and Penny looked sharp before the Groom’s Class during WEF 5.
It was a banner first half of WEF for Lourdes Low! After topping both 3’3” Junior Hunter, 16-17, classes on Sienna with scores of 87 and 88 during WEF 5, the pair opted out of showing in Sunday’s monsoon. They still earned the division reserve championship and she was awarded the style award.
Lourdes and Abazu BSM turn in speedy jump off performances to win a class and the classic in the Low Children’s Jumpers on their way to the division championship during WEF 5.
Lourdes Low and Sienna
Meredith Huddle and Money Penny
Gigi Manigault and the Finally Farms team.
Meredith Huddle
MC Nolan’s Golden Years and Liza Boyd qualified for the $100,000 WCHR USHJA Peter Wetherill Hunter Spectacular. “Bowie” qualified by winning a section of the 3’6” Performance Hunter stake with a 90.5 on their way to the Section B championship.
