The United States Equestrian Team (USET) Foundation has awarded the Connaught Grant to Will Faudree, and his mount, Mama’s Magic Way (Mighty Magic x Straightaway), a 10-year-old Hanoverian gelding owned by Jennifer Mosing.
Each year, the USET administers up to $25,000 to a CCI* or CCI2* horse in the U.S. that is seen as a potential candidate to represent Team USA on an international level. The grant was established by Caroline Moran in memory of her dear friend, the late R. Bruce Duchossois, who was passionate about and dedicated to encouraging the development of eventing horses in the United States, and is named after the famous eventing horse Connaught, who was owned by Duchossois and ridden by Phillip Dutton.
As the recipient of the Connaught Grant, Faudree, who is an athlete on US Equestrian’s Eventing High Performance Pre-Elite Training List, will be able to use the funds to support further competition and training toward this goal.
“I’m very lucky to have known Bruce [Duchossois] and see his passion for his horses and the American team,” stated Faudree. “He is a huge inspiration for me—not just as an owner and supporter of the U.S. equestrian team—but as a rider and horseman. I also recall exactly where I was sitting the day Phillip [Dutton] won Kentucky Three-Day with Connaught in 2008. He is also an inspiration. So, to be the recipient of the Connaught Grant is a huge honor and incredibly humbling."
“Jennifer [Mosing] and I are very excited about Mama’s Magic Way’s future,” Faudree continued. “We have a really fun partnership, and he loves the sport and loves his job. I know that we have our work cut out for us, but he and I are up for the challenge and we’re ready to do Bruce proud.”
“It’s an honor to carry on [Bruce Duchossois’] legacy in supporting up-and-coming horses that show great promise for representing our country,” Moran shared. “[As part of the Connaught Grant Committee], I was very excited by the strong group of horses that were put in front of us [for this grant] and I send my congratulations to Will. I hope that he has a great schedule ahead of him and look forward to supporting him and Mama’s Magic Way on their journey.”
Though competition plans remain tentative as the world navigates the COVID-19 pandemic, Faudree says the ultimate goal would be to compete Mama’s Magic Way at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials (England) in September. Faudree added, “[Mama’s Magic Way] is still young and relatively inexperienced, but he feels ready [for the horse’s first CCI5*]. We’re looking at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event in the spring, but if he needs more time before his first CCI5*, we may reroute to the Bramham Horse Trials (England), or the Bromont Horse Trials (Canada).”
Thanks to the Connaught Grant, Faudree and Mama’s Magic Way can continue their training with the goal of representing the United States in future international competitions.
Since the USEA Intercollegiate Eventing Program was founded in 2014, it has grown in popularity and participation each year. The USEA is excited to have 23 intercollegiate team challenges on the calendar in 2021 in addition to the 2021 USEA Intercollegiate Eventing Championships, which will be held at the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington, Virginia on May 27-30.
In 2000 and with the support of Joan Iversen Goswell, the Worth the Trust Educational Scholarships were established to provide financial assistance to amateurs to pursue their education in eventing. The funds from the Worth the Trust Educational Scholarships may be used for training opportunities such as clinics, working student positions, and private or group instruction, or to learn from an official, course designer, technical delegate, judge, veterinarian, or organizer.
The Linda Moore Trophy was introduced in 1979 and awarded to the leading Young Rider in the country. After a strong showing during the 2020 season, 16-year-old Benjamin Noonan of Ballwin, Missouri was named the 2020 RevitaVet Young Rider of the Year.
The USEA is sorry to announce that there will be no USEA Educational Symposium held in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The USEA Educational Symposium is hosted annually each February as a week of learning for participants and auditors.