Championships Abound at Aiken Charity

Elle Boyd and Glenhaven Small Talk

The Finally Farm team started out their spring strongly with lots of wins and tricolors at the Aiken Charity Horse Shows, held May 4-15 at Bruce’s Field in Aiken, South Carolina.

Elle Boyd and her ponies found their way to the winner’s circle on a regular basis during the two weeks, earning championships in a variety of sections. Elle was also named Best Child Rider on a Pony and received the CC Mills Perpetual Trophy donated by Sandra Thomas.

Elle had success aboard Finally Farm’s Loafer’s Lodge Melody, earning the Trip of the Day High-Score Award in the Medium Pony Hunter section with an 86. Elle and Melody also earned the Medium Pony Hunter reserve championship and topped the combined Pony Hunter Classic in Melody’s first time ever in the division. Melody has been at the farm since she was 4 years old and is well versed in all the fun things home has to offer. In addition to her show ring success, Melody is in her element as the best trail pony.

Elle Boyd and Loafer’s Lodge Melody

Aboard Finally Farm’s Glenhaven Small Talk, Elle took championship honors in the Small Green Pony Hunters during Week 2 with a clean sweep of the division! They moved up after earning the Children’s Pony Hunter championship during Week 1.

Elle also rode Sugarbrook Love Letter, owned by GC Ponies, LLC, to tricolor honors in the Small Pony Hunters with multiple wins over fences during both weeks.

Lulu Wells and Heaven’s Gift also starred in the pony hunters, taking the Large Pony Hunter championship Week 2 with three blue ribbons, including the win under saddle. Lulu and Heaven’s Gift also placed second and Frances Kelly and Girl On Fire took third in the USHJA Pony Hunter Derby during the Aiken Charity Horse Show 1. Frances and Girl On Fire earned the reserve championship in the Small Pony Hunters during Week 1 and captured more excellent ribbons the following week.

Frances Kelly and Girl On Fire with Lulu Wells and Heaven’s Gift

Lourdes Low and Sienna continued their winning partnership in the Junior Hunters. They placed fourth in the $5,000 JR/AO National Hunter Derby during Aiken Charity 2 and earned the 3’3” Junior Hunter championship.

Lourdes Low and Sienna

Gigi Manigault and Creekside were champions of the 18-35 Adult Hunters during Week 2, winning two classes over fences for their tricolor.

Mackenzie Miller and her new mount Modern Music earned the Low Children’s Hunter championship during Week 1 and claimed excellent ribbons during Week 2.

George Kelly and Quern Robin

Consistency counted for George Kelly and Quern Robin as they captured the Short Stirrup championship during Aiken Charity 1 and 2, with an armful of ribbons both weeks.

Mary Caroline Nolan and her horses collected many top prizes both weeks with MC and Liza Boyd aboard. Highlights included MC and Golden Years earning the 3’6” Junior Hunter reserve championship during Week 2 and Liza piloting Bettina to reserve honors in the 3’6” Performance Working Hunters.

MC also won the THIS Children’s Medal aboard Exclusive and was second in the ASPCA Maclay.

Grace Ann Nolan and her speedy partner Malbay Dreamer continued their winning ways, earning the Low Children’s/Adult Jumper reserve championship during Week 1.

A Winter Wrap-Up at WEF

Finally Farm spent the winter showing on the Winter Equestrian Festival circuit in Florida, and the 12 weeks provided many championships, top performances and a great learning environment.

Circuit Standings Highlights included:

Lourdes Low and Sienna placed third in the 3’3” Junior Hunter, 16-17, division, while Camryn Cass rode Catchphrase to 10th and La Vida Loca to 14th.

Mary Caroline Nolan piloted Exclusive to 10th in the circuit standings for the 3’6” Large Junior, 15 and under, section, and she rode Golden Years to 12th. Sister Grace Ann Nolan and Malbay Dreamer captured sixth in the Low Adult Jumper, 18-35, circuit standings.

Sugarbrook Love Letter and Elle Boyd were sixth in the circuit standings in the Small Green Ponies. Elle also rode three other Small Green ponies to the top 15 in the standings, including Donovan, Harlow Gold and Taking Names.

Other Highlights included:

Liza Boyd and Saturday Session

Gigi Manigault’s newest addition Saturday Session made his U.S. debut a winning one, earning the reserve championship honors in the 3’3” (7 and under) Young Hunters during WEF 12 with Liza Boyd aboard.

Mary Caroline Nolan and Bettina

Congratulations to Mary Caroline Nolan on the purchase of Bettina! We look forward to watching this partnership grow in the Small Junior Hunters!

Gigi Manigault won the Ariat Adult Medal Week 11 to close out her WEF season!

Gigi Manigault and Walk-Off won a class on their way to reserve championship honors in the 3’6” Amateur-Owner, 18-35, Hunters during WEF 10

Gigi Manigault and Walk-Off

Elle Boyd made her jumper debut on Finally Farm’s Cadeaux during WEF 9.

Camryn Cass and Catchphrase

Camryn Cass was back for another 3’3” Junior Hunter, 16-17, tricolor, this time on Catchphrase after two solid Sunday performances sealed the deal during WEF 9.

Congrats to MC Nolan on her lease of Hardin Towell’s Florida N!

Elle Boyd and Robin Greenwood’s Sugarbrook Love Letter won two classes on their way to the reserve championship in the Small Pony Hunters during WEF 9. Thanks to Team Loretta Robin and Kyla for your training and support!

Elle Boyd and Sugarbrook Love Letter

Tuesday trail ride!

Cammy Cass and La Vida Loca winning the u/s and top jumping ribbons to secure the 3’3” junior hunter 16-17 championship WEF 8

Camryn Cass and La Vida Loca

Gigi Manigault’s Creekside

Gigi Manigault’s Creekside made a clean sweep of the 3’6”/3’9” Green Hunter over fences and earned a 90 in the stake on his way to the championship during WEF 7.

WEF 2022 Begins With Winning Results

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.

Groom Spotlight: Carlos Ramirez Brings A Passion For Excellence To Finally Farm

Carlos Ramirez (center) with two Finally Farm young riders, (left) LuLu Wells and Elle Boyd.

If you walk into Finally Farm’s barn at a horse show, you’ll hear head groom Carlos Padilla Ramirez’s energetic voice echoing from one of the grooming stalls.

“Elle Boyd, you’re going to win today,” Ramirez says to professional hunter rider Liza Towell Boyd’s oldest daughter as he tacks up her pony. “I just feel it—you’re going to be champion.”

More often than not, Elle returns an hour later with a champion ribbon proudly pinned to her pony’s bridle and a huge smile on her face.

“We couldn’t do it without Carlos,” said Jack Towell, Finally Farm’s head trainer. “He’s on top of everything; he’s always in a great mood, and he’s very kind. There isn’t a mean bone in Carlos’ body.”

To read the full article on The Chronicle of the Horse website, please click here.

Carlos Ramirez gets joy out of watching the horses he takes care of perform well with their riders. (Pictured with Erin McGuire and Kasarr)

Aiken December is Delightfully Festive For Finally Farm

Erin McGuire and Kasarr

The Aiken December Classic I and II, held at Bruce’s Field in Aiken, South Carolina, was the start of the 2022 show season and offered a glimpse of what’s to come as well as an exclamation point on established partnerships.

Erin McGuire and her longtime partner Kasarr sped to the win in the Week 2 $1,000 Open Jumper Welcome class! The pair topped a field of 20 to win Thursday’s welcome by two seconds. Erin also claimed an impressive third in the “Tacky Christmas Sweater Contest”, which was a contest for all competitors, staff and spectators to wear their best Tacky Christmas Sweaters. The winners received a gift certificate to Rose Hill in Aiken.

With the Christmas spirit in full force, the Finally Farm team collected a solid collection of championship nutcrackers from the ponies to the Amateur-Owner Hunters.

Pony riders Elle Boyd, LuLu and Adeline Boyd show off their championship nutcrackers

Adeline Boyd and Baby Blue earned the Small Pony Hunter championship, Elle Boyd and Power Point earned the Medium Pony championship and LuLu Wells and Heaven’s Gift (making their debut together!) clinched the sweep with the Large Pony Hunter championship. Special thanks to Michael Newman and Cameron Kauffman for the ride on Power Point and Posh Ever So Clover, whom Elle rode to victory in the combined Pony Hunter Classic.

Elle and Adeline Boyd with Scooter and Baby Blue.

Elle and Taking Names made their Small Green Pony debut count, earning the division championship. “Scooter” was bought by Finally Farm as a 3-year-old, and Elle has been involved in his training all along. Thanks to the village that helped produce Scooter!

After Elle’s stunning Small Green Pony Hunter debut on Taking Names, little sister Adeline refused to be outdone making her own mark in her debut show aboard Baby Blue. Two wins over fences secured the pair the Small Pony tricolor in Adeline’s first time showing in the small ponies!

Mary Caroline Nolan continued her winning streak with championship honors in section A on Cleopatra’s Smile and champion in section B Ferrari in the combined 3’3” Junior Hunters during Week 2. Likewise, Gigi Manigault and Walk-Off dominated their division, winning four out of five classes in the 3’6” Amateur-Owner Hunters to clinch the championship.

MC Nolan with Ferrari and Cleopatra’s Smile

Lourdes Low and Sienna kicked off the 2022 show season with the championship honors in the 3’3” Junior Hunters. Congratulations also go out to Lourdes on the lease of Abazu BSM. Watch out for them in the Children’s Jumpers!

Camryn Cass and Catchphrase earned championship honors in the Children’s Hunter, 15-17, section. Cam also earned good ribbons on new horse La Vida Loca in their debut show!

Lourdes Low and Sienna

After a whirlwind year of finishing grad school and getting married, we’re thrilled to welcome back Sarah Miles and Juno with a blue ribbon in the 1.0m Jumpers!

Other champions included: Rebekah Warren’s MTM Hand Him Over in the Green 3’6”/3’9” section with Liza Boyd in the irons; McKenna Newton’s Espace Killy in the Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumpers; and Alison Thorp’s Matilda in the 3’ Green Hunters with Liza aboard.

Wonderful Washington International Wins

Liza Boyd and Ferrari

Any ribbon at the Washington International Horse Show is a treasured one, and this year Finally Farm riders captured many at the Tryon International Equestrian Center in Mill Spring, North Carolina.

Elle Boyd and Baby Blue showed off their strong partnership with an impressive win in the WIHS Pony Equitation Finals over fences phase, taking the blue ribbon over a strong field of contenders. Following a challenging flat phase, Elle finished with third place behind veteran pony riders Maddie Tosh and Olivia Sweetnam.

Elle Boyd and Sugarbrook Pink-N-Blue

The gift that keeps on giving continued at the WIHS! Elle and her 10th birthday present, Sugarbrook Pink-N-Blue, topped the Medium Pony Hunter Handy class as the first to go, and they held the lead all the way through! Elle celebrates her birthday and two years with “Darla” in a few weeks!

Trainer and Mom Liza Boyd also claimed blue-ribbon finishes at Washington. She piloted Mary Caroline Nolan’s Ferrari to victory in both 3’9” Green Hunter classes on the first day of the show. They went on to take second in the stake, won the under saddle and claimed the championship. To top off their great performances, Ferrari and Liza earned the High-Score Handy Round of the Green sections!

Elle Boyd and Baby Blue

Gigi and Walk-Off earned great ribbons in the 3’3” Amateur-Owner, 18-35, section, including a second in the stake class.

Grace Ann Nolan and Bolero D’Armanville laid down two competitive jump-offs in the Adult Jumpers to place second in the Welcome and fifth in the $10,000 WIHS Adult Jumper Classic. They jumped double-clear in the Welcome and were just .83 seconds from the win.

Meredith Huddle and P. Diddy also cruised around the in the Adult Jumpers with excellent rounds, earning a top-12 finish in the Classic.

Lulu Wells and Bel Air with trainer Liza Boyd

LuLu Wells and Bel Air scored an 83 for fifth in the Medium Pony Hunter Conformation trip to start their WIHS with a bang! LuLu then concluded her partnership with Bel Air with a fourth place in the under saddle. We wish LuLu the best of luck as she moves on to the Large Ponies in 2022.

Finally Farm welcomed Abazu BSM and McKenna Newton to the team and congratulated them on their fifth place finish in the $10,000 WIHS Children’s Jumper Classic.

Indoors is Off to A Great Start

Mary Caroline Nolan

The Finally Farm team traveled to Maryland for the Capital Challenge Horse Show and started off the 2021 fall indoor show season strongly!

As host to the grand finale of the World Championship Hunter Rider program, the Hunter competition at the Prince Georges Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, Maryland is always tough, and this year was no exception.

Consistent finishes all year helped Mary Caroline Nolan finish in the reserve position WCHR 3’3” Junior Rider for year-end standings Nationally and Regionally! Congratulations on your superb performances all year long.

Gigi Manigault and Bastille

Lourdes Low and Sienna concluded their Capital Challenge on a strong seventh-place finish in the WCHR 3’3” Junior Challenge, and Gigi Manigault and Bastille kicked off their indoors tour with a sixth-place in the WCHR 3’6” Amateur-Owner Challenge. Gigi also earned ribbons in the 18-35 section with Bastille, and she rode Walk-Off to ribbons in the 3’3” Amateurs. Earlier in the week, Liza and Walk-Off claimed top placings in the 3’6” Green Hunters, including second in the Handy and third in the Stake.

Liza also guided Ferrari to top ribbons in the Green 3’9“ and High Performance Conformation sections, culminating with an eighth in the WCHR Pro Challenge on Wednesday evening.

Lourdes Low and Sienna

Liza continued her success in the Greens aboard Creekside, owned by Don Stewart, with a second, fifth and sixth in the 3’ Green Hunter, 6 and under, section and aboard MTM Hand Him Over, owned by Rebekah Warren, she was fourth in the Green Hunter North American Championship and earned two seconds in the Green 3’3”, section B.

Bolero D’Armanville and Grace Ann Nolan jumped to third in the NAL Adult Amateur Jumper Welcome, with a speedy double-clear, and sister Mary Caroline Nolan rode Custom Made to top ribbons in the Junior Hunter 3’3”, 14 and under, both over fences and under saddle.

The following week at the Pennsylvania National in Harrisburg, Elle Boyd and Baby Blue made their presence known with an impressive fourth in the $10,000 Pony Hunter Winner’s Stake. It was a great way to end the Junior Weekend for Finally Farm, with congratulations to MC, Lourdes, LuLu, and Elle on qualifying and competing!

Elle Boyd and Baby Blue

Aiken Fall is Fantastic for Finally Farm

Lulu Wells with Bel Air and Quicksilver Party Wave

From the Short Stirrup to the Junior/Amateurs to the USHJA Regional International Hunter Derby South, the Finally Farm team found success at the Aiken Fall Festivals, held September 8-19 at Bruce’s Field in Aiken, South Carolina.

Adeline Boyd and Golden Ticket

Adeline Boyd and Golden Ticket were golden both weeks in the Short Stirrup Hunters. They earned the grand championship after claiming championship honors both weeks. Sister Elle picked up the first week’s Medium Pony Hunter championship with Sugarbrook Pink-N-Blue and the reserve Small Pony Hunter tricolor with Baby Blue.

Liza Boyd continued her derby success by placing second in the USHJA Regional International Hunter Derby South Championship with Gigi Manigault’s Walk-Off. The pair won the Classic Round, placed third in the Handy for the reserve championship title.

Lulu Wells also took home grand championship honors—twice. She won the Medium Pony Hunters on her own Bel Air and the Children’s Pony Hunters on Finally Farm’s Quicksilver Party Wave. Consistency was the word of the show for Lulu, as she rode to the Medium Pony Hunter reserve championship both weeks on Bel Air and the Children’s Pony Hunter championship both weeks aboard Quicksilver Party Wave.

Mary Caroline Nolan had a dream show at Aiken. Aboard Custom Made, she was champion in section A and grand champion in the 3’3” Junior Hunters, and with Ferrari she was champion in section B. With Cleopatra’s Smile, she earned the reserve championship in the 3’3” juniors, too. All told, she won eight blue ribbons in just the one division during Week 2 alone!

Mary Caroline Nolan and Custom Made and Ferrari

During Week 2, Gigi Manigault and Bastille collected the 3’6” Amateur-Owner Hunter championship with top calls over fences. She also piloted Walk-Off to excellent ribbons in the same section.

Camryn Cass and Catchphrase placed in the top three in all four over fences classes to earn the reserve championship in the Children’s Hunter, 15-17, section during Week 2.

Bring On The Rain and Mckenzie Miller topped the Children’s Pony Challenge and earned the reserve championship in the Children’s Pony Hunters.

Malbay Dreamer and Grace Ann Nolan continued their domination in the Low Children’s/Adult Jumpers. They won a class in the section before claiming the Classic win as well. Grace Ann also won the NAL High Children’s/Adult Jumper Classic aboard Bolero D’Armanville.

In the Equitation ring, the Finally Farm riders kept the winning momentum going both weeks. Gigi won the Ariat Adult Medal, Mary Caroline Nolan took top calls in the THIS Children’s Medal (twice) and the SCHJA Governor’s Cup, and Elle won the WIHS Pony Medal.

Liza Boyd and Cassico Claim Third in the USHJA International Hunter Derby Championships

Liza Boyd and Cassico

Once again, Liza Boyd showed everyone how the Handy Round could be ridden when she and Cassico leapfrogged up the standings to place third in the $311,740 Platinum Performance/USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship. She couldn’t quite catch good friend Hunt Tosh, who guided the Wheeler Family’s Cannon Creek to the victory, and second-placed Sam Schaefer riding Caristo.

Over Alan Lohman and Danny Moore’s hunter track, Liza capitalized on the tight turns and handy options. The 12-effort course had horses and riders taking a tour of the Rolex Arena, including over a trot jump and four high options.

This was Hunt’s first time back in the winner’s seat at the Championships since his win in 2010 with Lone Star.

“It’s really cool to see that he has another horse as cool as Lone Star because Lone Star was a horse of a lifetime, and that doesn’t happen very often,” said Liza, commenting on Tosh’s mount. “When I saw [Cannon Creek] jump it was so much like Lone Star and it gives me hope that maybe I can find another Brunello in 10 years.”

Liza and Rebekah Warren’s Cassico took home the third-place ribbon and $26,435.55 in prize money. The pair entered the ring for the Handy round in eighth and quickly moved up the leaderboard with a 571.5 overall. The only rider to win the Championship on the same horse three years in a row, Liza is no stranger to the top of the class.

“This is my fourth time being third, and it was the most fun. On the podium, I was so excited. These medals, thank you guys; it made third almost as fun as winning,” Boyd said. “It’s fun for us Hunter riders because we don’t get this opportunity and this is the Olympics for us, so it’s a big deal.”

New this year was a special award in memory of Finally Farm’s late groom, The Alberto Ramirez International Hunter Derby Groom’s Award. Alberto was a mainstay in Liza and Brunello’s multiple USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship wins, and the USHJA honored his memory alongside his friends with this new award that was presented posthumously to him on Saturday evening.

Elle Boyd Takes Championship Honors at Pony Finals

Elle Boyd and Baroness Of Lochiel on their way to winning the Medium Pony section. Shawn McMillan Photography

Elle Boyd made her first appearance at the USEF Pony Finals Presented by Honor Hill Farms one to remember. She guided Betsee Parker’s Baroness Of Lochiel to top honors in the Medium Pony section and Jill Shulman’s Secret Crush to the Reserve Championship Small Pony section.

Excerpt from the USEF

By Kathleen Landwehr and Ashley Swift, US Equestrian Communications Department

Boyd and Baroness of Locheil Win Medium Regular Pony Hunter National Championship presented by Pegasus Show Stables and San Marco Training

Elle Boyd, of Camden, South Carolina, and Baroness Of Locheil, Dr. Betsee Parker’s 2013 Welsh pony cross mare, launched to the top spot in the Medium Regular Pony Hunter National Championship presented by Pegasus Show Stables and San Marco Training after a strong jumping performance in the final phase of competition.

The pair earned a score of 268.94 in the Model and a score of 223.85 in the Under Saddle, placing them outside the top 15 heading into the Over Fences on Saturday. Their foot-perfect round earned them a score of 542.00, ending with a total score of 1034.79.

Elle Boyd and Baroness Of Lochiel

“Twinkle” won the Medium Green division at the 2019 Pony Finals with Maddie Tosh in the irons, but this was Boyd’s first-ever Pony Finals.

“Twinkle is just so smooth, and gentle, and kind,” said Boyd. “I train with my mom [Liza Boyd], and we work on being nice and smooth. When I went into the Over Fences, I just wanted to get a good solid round and stay consistent. I was trying to be extra careful in the last line, not to get too fast or too slow.”

The pair also collected additional awards, including the Welsh Pony & Cob Society Grand Champions as the Half/Part-Bred Welsh - Regular Divisions and the Welsh Pony & Cob Society High-Score Welsh Medium Pony Award Winner.

Annah Shuping and Liza Boyd with Cooper

In addition, Finally Farm was proud to see Annah Shuping, of Columbia, South Carolina, receive the Buttons N’ Bows Sportsmanship Trophy. “Your kind spirit and work ethic do not go unnoticed!” said trainer Liza Boyd. “Special thanks to Karen Kelley for your prep getting Annah and “Cooper” ready for Pony Finals!

Elle and Liza Boyd

Elle Boyd and Jill Shulman’s Secret Crush