Kensi and Elle Boyd earned the 3’3” Junior Hunter, 15 and Under, championship at WEF 2.
Finally Farm made a smooth transition from WEF 1 to 2, January 17-22, with continued progress, ribbons with new and established partnerships.
Bettina shined brightly for trainer Liza Boyd and owner/rider Mary Caroline Nolan. Liza and Bettina earned the Performance Hunter 3’6” championship with three of the four blue ribbons over fences. Then, Mary Caroline took the reins and earned ribbons in the Small Junior 3’6” section.
MC also piloted Golden Years in the 3’6” Junior Hunters, winning the Large section reserve championship.
“Last year was their first year at 3’6”, so there was a learning curve,” said Liza. “This year, they have so many miles after going to Devon and the fall indoors. They also won a class at Washington. I have to give credit to assistant trainer Olivia Murray, who knows how to keep him happy and flats him beautifully. I’m excited for her; it’s a great start for the circuit. She has two solid junior hunters and rides Exclusive in the equitation, hunters and derbies. He’s a great all-around horse we lease from North Run. Because of him, she rides the others so well, and he gives her confidence and is such a great teacher.”
Kensi and Elle Boyd moved into the Junior Hunters and have continued their winning ways after doing well in the Children’s Hunters last year. During WEF 2, they earned the Junior Hunter 3’3”, 15 and under, championship after winning the stake and taking other top ribbons.
“That’s been fun for Elle,” said Liza. “She did so well last year in the 3’ and having that big win at the Capital Challenge in the WCHR Children’s Hunter Challenge. The mare is super game and a great horse to move up to 3’3”. And, she can do her in some equitation classes. We’re looking forward to a great year in the 3’3”.”
Younger sister Adeline Boyd made her debut in the jumper ring with Star Struck, a new Medium pony for Adeline that’s owned by Patchwork Farm. The pair contested the new Itty Bitty Jumpers (.60-.65m) that’s a great start for riders looking to try out the jumpers.
“The first day she did the outside turns and then on Friday she did the inside turns and was second,” said Liza smiling. “This division is really teaching her to sit up and keep her reins short. I see a huge improvement. She’s riding Baby Blue a lot better after doing the jumpers.”
Liza said that doing the jumpers is also teaching Adeline to memorize the courses and is a way for her to learn the different jumper formats, the 45-second countdown clock and how to make sure she goes through the start and finish timers. “This educates the kids in so many ways, and it’s super fun to see her and her friends have so much fun. A lot of the professionals give a big sigh of relief after training over on Pony Island. Over there, every round is scored, so it’s nice for the kids to go and have fun without getting a score. Hardin got really into this, too, and has had fun training Adeline.”
George Kelly and Glassview’s Party Boy joined Adeline in the Itty Bitty Jumpers and earned ribbons as well.
Lulu Wells and Fiat earned their second consecutive Children’s Hunter, 14 and under, reserve championship during WEF 2.
Fiat and Lulu Wells continued to make their mark in the Younger Children’s Hunters, winning a class and earning the reserve championship.
Walk-Off and Gigi Manigualt won the Amateur-Owner 3’6”, 18-35, stake class and earned other great ribbons, and Gigi piloted Wizzard Of Odds to excellent ribbons in the Ariat Adult Medal and the NHS Adult Medal.
“By day 2 she was on it and got an 88,” said Liza of Gigi’s return to WEF. “And she and Creekside, now with a year into their partnership, are gelling together and got nice ribbons. She’s learning to take it to the next level and be handy, and it’s so nice to see they’ve grown and trust each other. Wizzard Of Odds is a wonderful horse, which is great for her to practice on and do the turns. That certainly helps her be more prepared for the hunters.”
Giorgio JW VD Moerhoeve Z and Lourdes Low moved up to the 1.10m/1.15m Children’s Jumpers and jumped double-clear for sixth in Saturday’s jump-off class at WEF 2.
Lourdes Low and Giorgio JW VD Moerhoeve Z started their new partnership with ribbons in the Children’s Jumpers, 15-17, section.
“We welcomed her new horse here,” said Liza. “Lourdes had a successful year with Sienna last year, and now she’s only focusing on the jumpers. She’s going to ride in college on a team, so we felt preparing her in the jumpers was good to do. The first week she did the 1.0m but quickly moved up to 1.10m. I can see them getting stronger together, and they’re going to be a fun pair to watch.”
Rebekah Warren and Ultirate Z had great rounds in the Older Adult Amateur section. In addition, she’s taking over the rider on her MTM Hand Him Over, the horse that Liza rode to much success in the USHJA International Hunter Derbies.
Meredith Huddle and MTM Axel placed seventh in the $10,000 1.15m Adult Jumper Classic during WEF 2.
Fellow Adult Amateur Meredith Huddle has MTM Axel in the Adult Jumpers, and they’re getting to know one another and picking up ribbons along the way.
“It’s really exciting for Meredith,” said Liza. “Now, she’s going clear and fast on both of her horses. It’s a hard division. It’s technical down here. Axel is a great teacher for her, and her other horse, Money Penny, is coming back and she’s building her back up. We’re looking forward to an exciting season down here.”
Camryn Cass is making her presence known in the 3’3” Junior Hunters with Catchphrase. During WEF 2 they picked up an impressive second place in the stake in the 16-17 section. They also earned top ribbons during WEF 1.
George and Frances Kelly joined Finally Farm at WEF for the first time, and it’s a logical step for the family. Frances is showing Girl On Fire, and George has Glassview’s Party Boy.
“George and Frances’ mother, Callie Glass, rode with us as a junior, and when I aged out she showed Monday Morning down here one week and that helped get him sold,” said Liza. “We were great friends and kept up over the years. She stopped riding and had kids, and it’s fun to have her back with her kids. Adeline and Frances are best friends. They’re both 8 years old, and it’s really helpful for me because at the end of the day Callie takes them to dinner and they do fun activities.
“Frances has impressed me. She’s fun to teach and tries hard,” said Liza. “I told her the competition is hard and she’d be lucky to get a ribbon down here the first year. But she stepped up and got ribbons, even in the classic! George is 10 and showing a pony in Children’s ponies. WEF 2 we skipped that and did the Itty Bitty Jumpers. I see him having a jumper in the future. He had a lesson with Hardin and is taking polo lessons, too. I could tell watching him do the jumpers that he’s sharp and thinks quickly. By the second day he was doing the inside turns great. It’s a great place for him to learn balance and track, and having Hardin helping him and Adeline is great. It’s only going to make him a better handy hunter rider when he gets a division pony.”
