Liza Boyd and Fieona (Anne Gittins Photography)

Wellington, FL - Liza Boyd of Camden, SC, started her season at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) with big wins in the Gold Coast High Performance Working Hunter Division. Boyd was champion with Jack Towell and Kelly Maloney's Fieona and also took home reserve honors on Janet Peterson and Finally Farm's Quatrain.

Boyd and Fieona, a nine-year-old Oldenberg mare, placed third under saddle and first in both over fences rounds on day one of competition and finished day two with third and second place ribbons over fences. Boyd piloted Quatrain, a nine-year-old Westphalian gelding, to two third places on day one, followed by two blue ribbon finishes over fences day two.

This may be Boyd's first week returning to Wellington for the FTI WEF, but she clearly won't have to worry about playing catch-up to the competitors who have settled in during weeks one through four. "Everyone else has been down here and going, so it's nice to be back in the groove and have such a good start. We're excited to be here," Boyd stated.

Boyd and Fieona look every bit the picture-perfect hunter pair, but the mare only began her hunter career in January. Fieona was Boyd's brother's Grand Prix horse for four years, competing last year at the FTI WEF in 1.50m classes.

"She had always been Hardin's jumper and she was good at that. She was a little slow, though, so she wasn't going to go on to do the 1.60m classes, so we decided to make her a hunter. She's slow and high and round and she just loves it. I'm so pleased for our first week here, to have this kind of result," Boyd said.

Fieona isn't Boyd's first successful jumper ring transformation. Her reserve champion mount Quatrain was also plucked from the jumper ring last year to start his new career in the High Performance divisions and to compete in hunter derbies alongside Fieona.

"I like having these horses out of the jumper ring because I know there's nothing they can't jump. They're very brave and they're good in the handy. I just change their frame a little bit, let them poke their nose out a little more, get them a little fatter and just let them have fun," Boyd stated. "They're both brave, good, solid horses and I'm so lucky to have both of them."

Boyd looks forward to competing at the FTI WEF before returning home to South Carolina briefly to give the horses some down time. Boyd then has her sights set on the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, held during the final week of competition at the FTI WEF. "We'll be back for the derby," Boyd emphasized. "I'll bring Fieona back, as long as she hasn't been sold yet, along with Quatrain and my other horse Brunello."