Boyd is Best in $150,000 USHJA World Championship Hunter Rider Peter Wetherill Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular

Wellington, Fla.—Feb. 18, 2025—The last time Liza Boyd collected the trophy for winning the $150,000 USHJA World Championship Hunter Rider Peter Wetherill Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular at the Winter Equestrian Festival, it was aboard the famed Brunello in 2010. Fifteen years later, on Saturday, February 15, Boyd rode to the winner's circle on another chestnut, Ondine D'Orleans. The pair finished with an overall average score of 91.25, just ahead of second-place finishers Paradigm and Victoria Colvin.

"It's been a while [since I've won this class], and I have to say every one is like a different chapter of my life," remarked Boyd. "The first one, I was really young and still a junior, and then winning it on Brunello was so amazing. It's extra special because [Ondine] caught my eye because she reminds me so much of Brunello." 

Thirty-six combinations took to Megan Rawlins' Classic Hunter Style course in the International Ring at Wellington International, scored by three panels of two judges, including Alex Jayne, Rob Bielefield, Chris Wynn, Mary Eufemia, Mary Lefler, and Mark Jungherr. The top 12 combinations from the First Round returned for a Playoff Handy Round. 

Boyd, of Camden, South Carolina, and Ondine D'Orleans, owned by Finally Farm and Neill Sites, finished the First Round in second with a score of 91.33. Colvin, who holds the record for most Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular wins at six, and Meredith Lipke's Paradigm topped the first course with a score of 91.83. Amanda Steege, of Califon, New Jersey, and Laffitte de Muze sat in fourth with an 88.25, behind Caroline Ingalls, of Rancho Santa Fe, California, and her own Concerto, scoring an 88.41. 

Returning in reverse order by height section, 2021 victors Steege and Lafitte de Muze, owned by Cheryl Olsten, quickly jumped to the top spot, earning an 88.79 average across both rounds. Once the jumps went up, Boyd claimed the lead with a 91.25 total and only two riders left to compete. Returning in first place after the First Round, Colvin was the final rider to contest the Second Round as Boyd waited with bated breath for the final scores to be tabulated. Colvin and Paradigm—the 2023 Platinum Performance/USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship winner with John French in the irons—earned an overall average score of 90.5, just 0.75 behind Boyd and Ondine D'Orleans. Once the final scores were posted, the top three finishers were all previous Palm Beach Spectacular winners.

"[Ondine is] an amazing mare. This is her home turf. She grew up here, so I feel like she knows this venue. I had a good feeling this morning when I rode her," said Boyd. "She was wonderful under the lights. I have to give credit to Casey Anzalone and Monique Keitz for producing this mare and bringing her along. She just rose to the occasion."

For their win, the pair took home $45,000 in prize money, the Dark Continent Perpetual Trophy courtesy of Jim Greene, a custom WCHR jacket, an embroidered cooler, and a flowered neck wreath. Boyd, as the winning rider, also received the Let's Dance Perpetual Trophy donated by Gene R. Mische.

Riders earning champion or reserve champion in the 3'6" and higher WCHR hunter sections during WEF 6 qualified for the Spectacular, with additional riders qualifying based on points if the qualified riders chose not to compete or were pre-qualified. In addition, select riders were pre-qualified to compete based on their 2024 standings in the WCHR national awards programs and Challenge classes at WCHR Finals. The top two of each 2024 Hunter Spectacular were also invited to compete.

"This [week] is so special for us Hunter riders. I feel like Derby [Championships] is our Olympics [and] this World Champion Hunter Rider week is like our World Cup Finals," said Boyd. "We work so hard to get here, [...] and to win this class means the world. I just couldn't be happier."

Various special awards were also presented during the evening's opening ceremonies and between rounds. The WCHR Peter Wetherill Cup was presented to Concerto as the WCHR Hunter of the Year, with owner Ingalls and trainer Hap Hanson accepting the award. Lynn Jayne, of Elgin, Illinois, was awarded the Kavar Kerr Perpetual Trophy for her dedication, leadership, and commitment to the Hunter sport and the WCHR program.

Vidalgo, owned by Triple C Equestrian LLC and ridden by Michael Murphy, received the Charlie Weaver Memorial Award for the highest-scoring Conformation Hunter in Round 1 with a score of 83.67. Fidelio, ridden by Scott Stewart and owned by Dr. Betsee Parker, was presented with the Mark Gregory Award, established by Susie Humes-Bronson, for the best-conditioned horse in Round 1. The WCHR Kiara Barnett Rider Style Award, donated by Bryan Baldwin and Tammy Williams, was awarded to Michael Murphy. 

The International Club was once again the site of the annual USHJA WCHR Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular Gala, offering patrons the best seats to watch the evening's activities. The Gala helps fund USHJA’s programs and initiatives, with a portion of the proceeds this year being donated to the USEF Equine Disaster Relief Fund to support recovery efforts in California following the recent wildfires.

Two more WCHR Spectaculars will be held across the country in 2025. The $100,000 WCHR West Coast Hunter Spectacular will be held on Friday, March 14 at Desert International Horse Park in Thermal, California. The WCHR Central Hunter Spectacular will be held on Saturday, July 12 at Flintfields Horse Park in Williamsburg, Michigan.

The USHJA sends special thanks to the entire Wellington International team for hosting the Spectacular and to Official Sponsors Herm Sprenger, Nutrena, and Parlanti for their support. Additional thanks go to Supporting Sponsor Essex Classics.

For more information about the USHJA World Championship Hunter Rider Program, visit ushja.org/WCHR.

$150,000 USHJA WCHR Peter Wetherill Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular Results

Horse, Rider, Owner

Round 1 Avg. | Round 2 Avg. | Final Score

1. Ondine D'Orleans, Elizabeth Towell Boyd, Finally Farm & Neill Sites

91.33 | 91.16 | 91.25  

2. Paradigm, Victoria Colvin, Meredith Lipke

91.83 | 89.166 | 90.50  

3. Lafitte de Muze, Amanda Steege, Cheryl Olsten

88.25 | 89.33 | 88.79  

4. Divine Romance, Patricia Griffith, Hallowell Lane Farm LLC

87.33 | 88.66 | 88  

5. Concerto, Caroline Ingalls, Caroline Ingalls  

88.41 | 87.33 | 87.87  

6. Colter, Sophie Gochman, Sophie Gochman

88 | 87.50 | 87.75 

7. Odette, Nick Haness, John & Stephanie Ingram, LLC

88 | 87 | 87.50  

8. Queen Celeste, Nick Haness, Glade Run Farm LLC

87.16 | 85.66 | 86.42  

9. Babylon, Paige Walkenbach, Walkenbach Equestrian LLC

87.16 | 85 | 86.08  

10. Damas de Tannerre, Emily Williams, Autumn Janesky

84.51 | 72 | 78.26  

11. Tiara, J.J. Torano, Morgan Naivar

86.50 | 69.66 | 78.08

12. Grand Remo, Stella Propp, Aquitaine Equine

84.91 | 1 | 42.96

Photos: Sportfot, Tricia Booker/USHJA