James Alliston, an eventer from San Ramon, California, has been awarded the 2025 Jacqueline B. Mars National Competition and Training Grant by the United States Equestrian Team (USET) Foundation. This grant, funded by USET Foundation Honorary Trustee Jacqueline B. Mars, aims to support athletes in preparing for competitions over 1,500 miles from their home base, specifically targeting those who have not yet competed on Olympic or FEI World Championship senior teams.
Alliston will use the grant to compete with his 11-year-old Oldenburg mare, Karma, at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event, where they previously placed ninth. Their partnership has seen success, including a fourth-place finish in The Netherlands as part of the U.S. Eventing team and a silver medal at the SAP Cup in Aachen, Germany. Alliston has been training Karma since she was five, recognizing her exceptional jumping talent and potential.
With aspirations to represent the U.S. at the FEI World Championships in 2026, Alliston emphasizes the financial challenges of traveling for competitions, especially from California. He expresses deep gratitude for the grant, which alleviates some of the financial burdens associated with competing and allows him to focus on achieving his goals for both himself and his horse.
