Mara Depuy

The horses

Congo Brazzaville C

Congo is a very exciting horse for Mara, with all the pieces to be the next big horse. Brave on the cross country, with great show jumping technique and lovely movement on the flat, he is a horse to watch. With a successful year at the Advanced level, culminating in a top 15 finish at Fair Hill International CCI***, they are definitely a pair to watch in the future!

With the Eventing world poised on change, the future is nothing if not exciting! While many riders are pursuing larger strings, Mara has found that her greatest successes come from doing what she loves best, finding horses early in their event career, forging a strong partnership with them and pursuing the upper levels. Mara currently has an exciting pair of horses competing. Congo Brazzaville C leads the string with exciting young prospect Wish I Am hot on his heels. Mara has an amazing group of students that keep her busy coaching whenever she's not riding. Her barn regularly has horses in for "boot camp" weeks leading up to large competitions, as well as young horses in for training and upper level horses in for tune ups and finishing work. In her scant down time, she enjoys reading, keeping up on current affairs and politics, exercise, spending time with her dog Bella and her wonderful family and friends.

1996 –	Mara DePuy represents the US at the Atlanta Olympics
2007 –	Mara and Nicki Henley selected to represent the US at the Pan American Games in Rio De Janiero
2013 –	Congo joins the Mara DePuy Eventing team.
2016 –	Harry joins Mara in August, Congo has a fantastic year at the Intermediate
2017 –	Mara and Congo move up to Advanced. Harry moves through Novice to Training level

Mara's history

Mara grew up in a small town in Vermont, riding ponies and learning horsemanship the old fashioned way- Bombing around the woods and figuring out how to stay on! She grew up riding at Huntington Farm. Huntington Farm was owned by Ann Kitchel and Mara spent the summers there as a working student for Jane Hamlin. Jane helped Mara find a horse named Hopper and suggested that he and Mara begin working with Wash Bishop. As a teenager Mara starting working with Wash on the naughty little horse she wanted to sell. When the time came however, she couldn't bear to sell him and decided to knuckle down and figure out how to ride him. That little horse ended up taking her to not only her Young Riders in 1993 but continued all the way to the Olympics in Atlanta where they placed 6th. After Hopper, Mara continued her quest to learn how to ride quirky horses and brought several to the Advanced level. Here to Stay, Good Stuff, Nicki Henley, High Patriot and Funmaker all had success at the Advanced level, with Nicki Henley being her second US team horse. Nicki Henley and Mara were 3rd at the Jersey Fresh 3-star event and were selected to compete in Rio De Janeiro at the Pan American games. Mara rocketed into the lead in the dressage and was clean and fast cross country when Nicki didn't feel right. Unfortunately he had hurt himself and was not able to complete the competition. In a testament to her management program though, he came back to win the Red Hills CIC*** only 2 years after his injury.Coming home from Rio De Janeiro with an injured partner was hard, but a silver lining was found in a horse named High Patriot. "Riot" was staying at Willow Bend while his owner and rider, Shannon Lilley, watched over the farm during Mara's trip to Rio. He and Mara clicked right away and they had a successful career at the advanced level before he was retired.

Wish I Am

"Harry" is a seven year old, well bred Dutch/Hanovarian (his grandsire is the sire of famous dressage horse Totilas) gelding who had done a few Young Event Horse classes in England. Although very green, his scope, attitude and talent caught Mara's eye. They are successfully forging a lovely partnership as they progress up the levels. (photo credit- Mary Pat Stone)

Join the Mara DePuy Eventing family! Barn manager and working student position available

Mara is currently looking for a barn manager. Mara is known for her high standards, but also for great treatment of her staff. She views her barn manager/groom as an integral part of her success. Applicants should be:

Flexible and friendly
Able to drive a truck and trailer
Knowledgeable in upper level horse care management

In addition, Mara often has room for working students. Willow Bend is a beautiful farm to work out of, and students should expect to up their knowledge in the saddle and the barn. Past working students have gone on to be professionals in the industry, NAJYRC participants, and professional grooms.

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Mara DePuy Eventing