Rising to the Challenge at Capital Challenge

La Vida Loca and Elle Boyd

The Finally Farm team took the Capital Challenge by storm, taking tricolors and top ribbons throughout the show, September 28-October 8 in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. Considered the kick-off of the East Coast Fall Indoor circuit, the show is arguably one of the most competitive in the country. Despite the tough competition, Finally Farm riders rose to the challenge!

Highlights included Elle Boyd riding Camryn Cass’ La Vida Loca to reserve championship honors in the WCHR 3’3” Junior Challenge with scores 84.25, 87 and 86.25. At age 14, Elle was one of the youngest riders in the field of competitive junior hunter riders from throughout the country and in her debut year at the 3’3” height.

Earlier in the week, Elle also earned ribbons with the Rein Family’s Allegro T in the 13 & 14 Year Old Equitation section and placed 12th in the THIS Medal Finals. She also rode Illusion Imperio Egipcio to 15th in the EMO Insurance/USHJA 3’3” Jumping Seat Medal Final-East for a great first equitation finals experience.

Day Won and Liza Boyd

MC Nolan’s Day Won impressed the judges in the Green Hunter 3’6” section, earning the reserve show championship honors in Section A with Liza Boyd aboard. They picked up two second places over fences and a sixth in the under saddle for the tricolor. Over the weekend, MC and Day Won continued the momentum, placing in every class, with a highlight being their third in the stake.

Day Won and MC Nolan

Aboard Ferrari, MC placed 12th in the WCHR 3’6” Junior Challenge, and they also earned great ribbons in the Large Junior, 16-17, section over the weekend.

Liza and MC’s Golden Years jumped to 12th in the WCHR Professional Challenge on Wednesday, and MC rode Golden Years to excellent ribbons later in the week in the Large Junior, 16-17, section.

Creekside and Gigi Manigualt

Gigi Manigualt and Creekside shined in the 3’3” Amateur-Owner, 18-35, section, with multiple ribbons over fences. The pair also captured eighth in the WCHR 3’3” Amateur-Owner Challenge with an excellent round that scored in the mid-80s from all three panels of judges.

Girl On Fire and Frances Kelly were on fire in the WCHR Pony Challenge, picking up an impressive eighth place as the only Small Pony in the top 12. Close behind was Lulu Wells and Heaven’s Gift, with a 10th place ribbon fluttering on their bridle as the joined in the victory gallop. George Kelly and Loafer’s Lodge Melody also enjoyed great rounds in the Medium Ponies.

Adeline Boyd and Falling Moon’s Huckleberry earned scores in the 80s all week to get jogs in every Small Pony Hunter class out of 40+ ponies. Thanks to Glade Run Farm for sharing Huck!

Cameron Kauffman competed Sochi and AF Strategy in the Children’s Hunter, 14 and under, section, where the put in some very nice performances.

Girl On Fire and Frances Kelly

Liza also picked up the ride on Irene Neuwirth’s Coconut Grove, and the pair placed 10th in the Kask/Vogel Green Hunter North American Championship. In addition, they earned top ribbons in the 3’3” Green Hunters together, including a second in the stake. Liza also guided Meredith Huddle’s Bluewater to 12th in the NA Championship and collected excellent ribbons in the 3’ Green Hunters to qualify for the Championship. She also rode Elle Gibbs’ Lincoln in the 3’ Green Hunter, 6 and under, with great ribbons over fences.

Over in the Jumper ring, Meredith took her own victory gallop after placing seventh in the highly competitive $10,000 NAL Adult Amateur Jumper Finals aboard MTM Axel with a double-clear effort over very challenging courses.

MTM Axel and Meredith Huddle

A special highlight for Liza was reuniting with her childhood friend, Teddi Jo Mellencamp Arroyave, and showing her horse, Definitely. Trainer Archie Cox made it even more fun by recording the “competition” on Instagram between Liza and Teddi Jo for the highest scores aboard Definitely during the week. His videos captured the attention of thousands of people throughout the country who enjoyed the antics and entertaining commentary throughout the show. Special thanks to Archie for making this Capital Challenge an especially memorable one!

Please enjoy this gallery of photos from our great show!

A Fantastic USEF Pony Finals

Lulu Wells and Heaven’s Gift

Lulu Wells and Heaven’s Gift finished their last USEF Pony Finals together with great results on August 7-13 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington.

“Buddy was so good all week getting 10th in the hack, 12th in the model, and 18th overall! Thank you @finally_farm for making my last pony finals a great one🩵” said Lulu after their stellar performances.

The pair began the competition in the Large Pony section with 12th in the model out of 145 ponies. They earned scores of 82, 84 and 82 from the three judges for a great start.

They were even more impressive in the under saddle, strutting to 10th with scores of 84.22, 86.49 and 87.80. In the over fences, they had a solid round with scores in the high 70s to take 18th overall out of a huge and competitive field of larges.

An Amazing 100th Blowing Rock for Finally Farm

La Vida Loca and Camryn Cass Grand 3’3” Junior Hunter

The Blowing Rock Charity Horse Show celebrated its 100th anniversary, and the Finally Farm team joined in the festivities repeatedly during the two weeks of shows in Blowing Rock, North Carolina. Dozens and dozens of blue ribbons and tricolors adorned the award-winning tack room walls from July 25-August 6, and it was one of the best shows in recent memory for fun and achievements.

After the two weeks concluded, Finally Farm took home eight circuit titles, 14 championships and reserves, and more than 50 blue ribbons. Highlights included:

• Sallie Busch Wheeler Leading Hunter Trainer: Jack Towell

• Jennifer Cox Memorial Trophy Leading Junior Rider: Elle Boyd

• Bernard Laroque Perpetual Trophy Style Award: Liza Boyd

• Blowing Rock Children’s Jumper Classic Trophy: Giorgio JW VD Moerhoeve Z ridden by Lourdes Low

• January’s Best Trophy Grand Green Hunter 3’6”: Day Won owned by Mary Caroline Nolan and ridden by Liza Boyd

• Critz Trophy Grand Champion Junior Hunter 3’3”: La Vida Loca owned and ridden by Camryn Cass

• Blowing Rock Junior Hunter Perpetual Trophy Grand Champion 3’3” Junior Hunter: La Vida Loca

• Lita L. Wagensteen Memorial High-Score Amateur International Hunter Derby: Cassico owned and ridden by Rebekah Warren

Weekly champions and reserves were earned by:

• Day Won and Liza earned the Green Hunter 3’6” championship both weeks and were Grand Green Hunter champions

• Heaven’s Gift and Lulu Wells earned the Large Pony Hunter reserve championship Week 1

• Bettina and MC Nolan earned the 3’6” Small Junior Hunter reserve championship Week 1

• Kensi and Elle Boyd earned the reserve championship in the 3’3”, 15 under, Junior Hunters both weeks

• La Vida Loca and Camryn were the 3’3”, Junior Hunter 16-17 reserve champions Week 1 and champions Week 2 and Grand Junior Hunter champions

• AF Strategy, owned by Cameron Kauffman and ridden by Liza, earned the 3’3” Performance Hunter Section B reserve championship Week 1

• Sydney and Elle Boyd earned the Medium Pony Hunter reserve championship Week 2

• Ferrari and MC Nolan earned the 3’6” Large Junior, 16-17, reserve championship Week 2

• MC Nolan’s Golden Years was reserve champion in the 3’6” Performance Hunters Week 2

• Why and Charlotte Warren earned the Low Adult Hunter reserve championship Week 2

• Giorgio JW VD Moerhoeve Z and Lourdes Low took the reserve championship in the 1.10m Children’s Jumpers

Finally Farm also won the Most Workmanlike Tack Room Award, and Liza and Elle both earned $500 Goshen Hill POE Rider Bonus Awards for their high-score performances.

Please enjoy this gallery of photos from the two weeks of Blowing Rock!

Triumphs at Tryon Summer For Finally Farm

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

Great Performances at Junior Hunter National Championships - East

Mary Caroline Nolan and Bettina receiving their awards.

The Finally Farm team traveled North (Way up North!) to contest the Adequan/USEF Junior Hunter National Championships - East held in Traverse City, Michigan. An annual highlight for Juniors, the event ran June 29-July 1 and also featured the USHJA Gladstone Cup Equitation Finals - East.

Mary Caroline Nolan and her Bettina starred in the Small Junior, 16-17, section, where they finished fourth overall. They placed third in the Classic Round, fifth under saddle and seventh in the Handy.

Mary Caroline Nolan and Golden Years

MC also guided Golden Years to 12th overall in the Large Junior, 16-17, section out of 60 entries, with ninth place in the Handy as their highlight.

MC and Exclusive had a good trip in the Gladstone Cup to conclude a great show.

During the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival, MC and Bettina warmed up for the championships with a class win in the Small Juniors, and Golden Years was not to be outdone and won a class in the Large Juniors!

Camryn Cass and La Vida Loco

Camryn Cass made her debut at Junior Hunter Finals and placed 22nd overall with La Vida Loco in the 3’3” Large Junior, 16-17, section with a ninth under saddle and nice performances over fences out of 86 entries.

Sidelines Magazine Features Liza, Elle and Adeline

The Cover Story! The July issue of Sidelines magazine features an article on our own Liza Towell Boyd: A Pony Life Tradition With Daughters Elle & Adeline.

Written by Kimberly Gatto with portraits by photographer Melissa Fuller, the article delves into Liza’s background and career as a junior and then talks about her role as a “Pony Mom” as she guides Elle and Adeline in their riding careers.

To read the article on the Sidelines website, please click here.

Hardin Towell Takes Split Rock National Grand Prix in Kentucky

Hardin Towell and Boheme Du Moulin

Hardin Towell and Boheme Du Moulin sped to victory in an exciting 12-horse jump-off to capture the $20,000 C. Jarvis Insurance 1.40m National Grand Prix at the Split Rock Tour in Lexington, Kentucky.

The pair stopped the clock with a clear round in 36.13 seconds for the win on June 17th. Their bold jumping down the final line of a double combination seven strides to an oxer helped them edge Emma Sargent aboard Giolita with a time of 36.69. No one else came close to the top two without collecting faults, so Hardin enjoyed a well-earned victory in a competitive field of 47 starters.

The 2023 Split Rock Tour includes six cities and 12 shows throughout the country, from California to Florida.

Hardin Towell and Boheme Du Moulin

Fun Times at Devon Junior Weekend

Elle Boyd and Loafer’s Lodge Melody

Devon Junior Weekend didn’t disappoint! With great riding and glorious weather, the Finally Farm juniors made their presence known at the historic and prestigious show, held May 25-27 in Devon, Pennsylvania.

Elle Boyd and Loafer’s Lodge Melody earned two fantastic scores of 88 over fences to take two red ribbons home from the Medium Pony Hunter section, one in the stake class. They also jumped to fourth in the Medium Pony Hunt Teams with their “Under The Sea” teammates.

Elizabeth and Lulu Wells with Heaven’s Gift

Lulu Wells and Heaven’s Gift contested the Large Pony Hunters, where they had great rounds, including a third in the stake class with a beautiful performance. They also trotted to sixth place under saddle and went on to capture fifth in the Large Pony Hunt Teams with “Avatar: The Way of Ponies.”

Adeline Boyd made her Devon debut aboard Baby Blue in the Small Ponies and posted super performances for her first time in the Wheeler Ring.

In the Dixon Oval, Mary Caroline Nolan rode her Bettina, Exclusive and Golden Years to excellent rounds in the hunters and equitation. She and Golden Years jumped to an impressive fourth place in the handy round of the Large Junior Hunter, 16-17, section.

Mary Caroline Nolan and Golden Years

Brunello Inducted into the National Show Hunter Hall of Fame

Brunello and Liza Boyd with his National Show Hunter Hall of Fame plaque.

Finally Farm is thrilled to announce that Brunello has been inducted into the National Show Hunter Hall of Fame in the class of 2023!

Co-owned by Janet Peterson and Liza Boyd, Brunello won the prestigious USHJA International Hunter Derby Championships three times, from 2013-2015 and still holds the record as the only horse to have won the coveted championship three consecutive years.

Brunello’s long list of accomplishments in the hunter ring includes High Performance Hunter championships and USHJA International Hunter Derby wins from the Winter Equestrian Festival in Florida to the National Horse Show over the course of his decade-long show career.

Brunello, a Hanoverian gelding, was originally a jumper in Europe, but after being imported to the United States in 2007, he found his niche in the hunters. The timing was perfect, as the hunter derbies were ramping up, and Brunello became the ideal prototype of the derby horse for his incredible scope and jumping style. With Boyd aboard, Brunello placed third in the 2010 USHJA International Hunter Derby championships and second in 2012 before claiming their three titles.

With multiple USEF National Horse of the Year wins and many other derby victories, Brunello became the best-known hunter in the country, even becoming a Breyer horse model in 2016.

Today, Brunello, 25, is retired at Finally Farm in Camden, South Carolina, where he enjoys his days grazing in his field and being pampered in the barn. When Liza returned home from the induction ceremony at the Merion Cricket Club in Pennsylvania, she pulled “Ike” out of the field and put his bridle on for the photo op with his awards.

“Brunello hadn’t had a bridle on in years, and he pricked his ears and posed just as if he were in the show ring again,” said trainer Jack Towell with a smile. “He knew it was an important day!”

El Primero Shines in $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby

Tori Colvin and El Primero with trainer Jack Towell

Bryan Baldwin’s El Primero continued to impress the judges during this year’s Winter Equestrian Festival circuit, and scored a 96 in the Handy to claim the blue ribbon in the $25,000. USHJA 2* International Hunter Derby on March 11.

Superstar junior rider turned consummate professional Victoria Colvin and El Primero leapfrogged up the standings with a brilliant Handy Round to seal the deal on their victory.

El Primero, a 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding by Numero Uno, owned by Meralex Farm Inc., scored 89.25 in the Classic Round for a total of 185.25 and the top spot.

Andy Christiansen, Jr. built a stunning two-round track on the Derby Field at Equestrian Village for 44 hopeful pairs. Second place went to Greg Crolick and Chappy, who combined a 91 and 93 for a 184 final score, and third went to Jennifer Hannan and Mindful on a 183 after tallying a pair of 91.5s. 

“The course was very flowing and beautiful,” said Colvin, 26. “Primo started out great. He jumped the first high option wonderfully, as well the first half of the course. He felt fantastic in the handy portion and was very tidy.”

El Primero and Tori Colvin

Great partnerships aren’t built overnight and when asked about Primo, Calvin was beaming, “I have been riding Primo for almost five years now, so we obviously know each other quite well. He’s the absolute best horse, never spooks and you know he’ll just go right into the arena, march around and try very hard to win. He always tries so hard and gives it his all.” She continued to say, “he is a great derby and one of the most fun horses to ride.

“I’m very thankful for Primo’s owner Bryan Baldwin and for everyone surrounding him,” added Colvin, including trainers Jack Towell and Liza Boyd of Finally Farm and Meralex Farm’s barn manager Nanci Snyder and rider/trainer Dinette Neuteboom and their staffs. “We couldn’t do it without a great team behind this horse.”