Mary Caroline Nolan and Exclusive
The competition was hot in Tryon, North Carolina, but the Finally Farm team members kept their cool and brought home multiple championships and victories at the Tryon International Equestrian Center during Tryon Summer 4 and 5 from July 4-16.
Mary Caroline Nolan had several breakthroughs at Tryon, and a major highlight was her fifth place overall aboard Exclusive in the $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby.
“Doing the derbies earlier in the year helped her at Junior Hunter Finals,” said trainer Liza Boyd. “The International derbies helped her feel more comfortable because the Junior Hunter Finals in Traverse City had impressive courses in a big ring and had the feeling of a derby. After jumping around there and doing the Gladstone Cup Equitation Finals, she came to Tryon and really shined in that derby. She was seventh in the Classic Round and in the Handy she did several high options for fifth and moved up to fifth overall. She’s really learning to jump the high options and get a good jump without a risk.”
Mary Caroline Nolan and Ferrari
MC also earned the Large Junior, 16-17, championship and was Grand Junior Hunter champion with Ferrari and won the Junior Hunter Classic with scores of 92 and 85. Aboard Golden Years, MC also took second in the Classic with scores of 90 and 84 and was reserve champion.
Rebekah Warren and her Cassico also competed in the International Hunter Derby and had two solid rounds. “It was fun for me to be on the sidelines and have an amateur and junior that I helped bring along now doing the International Hunter Derby,” said Liza. “It’s so rewarding to see MC come this far and hold her own in tough company. Rebekah had an unfortunate rail but rode great.”
Charlotte Warren, Rebekah’s daughter, showed with Finally Farm in Tryon and was champion in the Low Adult Hunters on Why and got good ribbons on Corneil, including two blues in the Foothills 2’6” classes. “It’s fun to have her, and she pops in and out when she can,” said Liza. “She’s ridden with us since she was a Short Stirrup rider, so it’s great to have her back in the barn.”
Bryan Baldwin’s Hillsborough Bay captured a championship and reserve in the Baby Greens with Liza in the irons. “He’s a promising horse for the future. Bryan bought him as a 2-year-old. He’s 5 now and really coming along great. Bryan’s been buying young horses and leaving them in Europe to bring them along. It’s an interesting story because not a lot of owners want to do that. They prefer to buy a horse to show immediately, but Bryan enjoys the process. She has a nice string she left in Europe to get finished, and this is one of the first ones to come over. She’s very patient and takes her time with the horses, which is nice. This horse showed in Florida with Tori Colvin and then went home and just really took it all in. We worked on flatwork, and he’ll show a little more in the summer but the goal is for him to do the USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Championships next year. He shows promising scope, and after the Incentive I could see him doing the International Hunter Derbies one day.”
Elle Boyd and Kenji continued to add to their champion streak with tricolors both weeks in the 3’3” Junior Hunters. Elle also rode Illusion Imperio Egipcio to top ribbons in the equitation, including the win in the SCHJA Governor’s Cup and second in the EMO Insurance/USHJA Jumping Seat Medal. “Elle is excited about doing the 3’3” medals this fall. This is a nice older horse who’s quite seasoned that had been in Missy Clark’s program, so he knows all the tricks,” said Liza.
Younger sister Adeline Boyd earned top ribbons in the Small Pony Hunters with a new mount, Falling Moon Huckleberry. “I want to thank Tom Wright and Laura Karat of Glade Run Farm for sharing Falling Moon Huckleberry with us,” said Liza. “Taylor Cawley and Alexa Karen rode him, and I think he’s a family member to them now, so we’re lucky to have him for Adeline. I’m so grateful to them for trusting us with their special pony. Adeline won a class both weeks in the regular smalls. He’s great and very good at the handy classes and will teach her a lot.”
Attaboy and Elle Gibbs returned to the show ring to earn a reserve championship in the 3’3” Amateur-Owner Hunters. “She also bought a cute Pre-Green horse named Lincoln from Jen Alfano, so we’re glad to have him in the barn. He’s a great jumper and will be a nice, fun horse for the future. We’ll campaign him the rest of the summer with a goal of the USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Championships. He’s really fun and brave.”
Ashley Neudorff did well on Carousel and won a class and got great ribbons in the Adult Amateur, 36 and over, section. “He did the Green Hunter Incentive Championships the year before and is now a great amateur horse for Ashley,” noted Liza.
Over in the jumper ring, Grace Ann Nolan and Malbay Dream are still the ones to beat. They topped the NAL/WIHS Adult Jumper Classic and won an Adult Jumper class for a great week of competition. “Grace Ann is also doing well with her newer ride Raya in the 1.10m, and she’s super consistent and great in the jump-offs with the inside turns and angles. I’m normally at the hunter ring, but I helped her last week and it was fun to see her progress and see how competitive she’s gotten.”
Emma Barsosky joined Finally Farm in May and is leasing the large pony Blue A Kiss. The pair clicked quite quickly, and earned excellent ribbons in the Large Pony Hunters and the Schooling Ponies. “She’s done well in the larges and was second in the Pony Hunter Derby in Aiken in June,” said Liza. “She’d never shown a large pony before, and she’s been a great learner and has had a consistent summer. We’re very excited about USEF Pony Finals in August, and thrilled to welcome her into the barn.”
Cameron Kauffman joined Finally Farm in June and transitioned to the Children’s Hunters with Sochi. The pair have already developed a solid partnership and earned top ribbons in the Children’s Hunter, 14 and under, section and placed third in the NAL/WIHS Children’s Hunter Classic at Tryon. “She came off Medium Ponies she sold before she came to us and has been doing the Children’s Hunters,” said Liza. “She just purchased a new horse named AF Strategy. who is really cute, and we’re excited to welcome him to the barn. Blowing Rock will be her first horse show with him.”
Mary Caroline Nolan and Golden Years
Mary Caroline Nolan and Exclusive
Liza Boyd with Mary Caroline Nolan
