The 2024 Jacqueline B. Mars Nationwide Competitors and Coaching Grant has been awarded to 24-year-old U.S. eventing athlete Mia Farley of Ocala, FL, who completed in thirteenth place on the 2024 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Occasion CCI5*-L driving her coach David O’Connor’s 11-year-old thoroughbred, Phelps, by Tiznow.
The nationwide grant is awarded by the US Equestrian Staff (USET) Basis by means of the generosity of USET Basis Honorary Life Trustee Jacqueline B. Mars to help preparation and attendance at a nationwide competitors.
The grant awarded to Farley was to arrange for and compete on the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Occasion.
Mia Farley and Phelps. Photograph by Tilly Berendt.
Farley mentioned: “Once I was instructed I had gained it three weeks earlier than Kentucky, I used to be very shocked and grateful. The grant helped with the journey bills to Kentucky, and I used to be in a position to experience with [U.S. Eventing Emerging and Development Coach] Leslie Legislation a bit extra.
“In Kentucky, it assisted with the price of Phelps’ therapies for the five-star, guaranteeing he felt his finest. The grant goes to be an enormous assist as I’m fairly restricted on funds, and I’m actually excited to see what else I can do with it,” she continued. Farley will spend this summer season in Lexington, Kentucky, for the primary time earlier than returning residence to Ocala, Florida. “I plan to make use of the grant to enhance, notably within the present leaping, with Phelps. I’m hoping to do one other long-format with him this fall.”
The annual grant goals to help the Eventing Pathway Packages’ aim of sustainable success on the world stage. Particularly, these grants are designed to help athlete/horse mixtures already competing at four-star stage to realize Pre-Elite or Elite Program standards throughout the subsequent 12 months.
Mia Farley and Phelps. Photograph by Tilly Berendt.
“To younger riders who’re in an identical scenario with restricted funds, grants like this and surrounding your self with good individuals imply that something is feasible. On days when it doesn’t really feel doable, it’s inspiring to have the ability to apply for these grants and stay up for the alternatives they’ll present,” added Farley.
The Jacqueline B. Mars Nationwide Competitors and Coaching Grants present coaching and competitors sources for U.S. athletes who’ve by no means competed on an Eventing Olympics or FEI World Championships Staff and have earned, by way of outcomes and potential, the chance to journey to a different a part of the nation to compete.
For added info or to help the USET Basis and the U.S. equestrian athletes headed to the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Video games, go to https://www.uset.org/donate/.
