Recipients of The 2024 Zara Buren Memorial Award Announced
February 19, 2024 – The Ontario Eventing Association, in partnership with the Zara Buren Memorial Foundation, is pleased to announce the recipient of the 2024 Zara Buren Memorial Award.
The Zara Buren Memorial Award was created in honour of Zara Buren, a remarkable young woman known for her kindness, drive for excellence, passionate love of animals and dedication to her horse and the sport of Eventing. A talented rider committed to training and learning; Zara always put her horse’s needs first.
The Zara Buren Memorial Foundation was established in 2020 with a focus on helping youth with the desire, talent, and work ethic to pursue their passion. The Foundation supports the Zara Buren Memorial Award, given annually through the Ontario Eventing Association to an exceptional junior rider who exhibits a passion for Eventing, sportsmanship, and a commitment to their horse.
This year, a total of twenty (20) exceptional junior riders applied for this award, the largest number of applicants to date. Once again, The Selection Committee was comprised of members of the Ontario Eventing Association Board of Directors, as well as Zara’s family.
Said Sabrina Haque, “This is the fourth year of the Award created in honour of our remarkable daughter, Zara. Her extraordinary horsemanship and sportsmanship are standards we were so pleased to see embraced by all twenty applicants. It is our sincere hope that each recipient will inspire others as they work towards their goals, and we hope that the funds that have been awarded will allow for more training, traveling, and showing opportunities.
The Zara Buren Memorial Foundation is proud to support a total of seven athletes in 2024. In addition to the main Award, we will provide four Grants of Distinction as well as two Grants of Potential. We thank all applicants and their supporters and may we all continue to #rideforzara.”
The Ontario Eventing Association is pleased to announce Alexa Maclaren of Vankleek Hill, ON, as the recipient of this year’s Zara Buren Memorial Award, a six-thousand dollar grant, and a horse cooler and bonnet in burgundy, Zara’s show colour.
The four (4) Grants of Distinction recipients are, whom will each receive a grant of one-thousand dollars, in alphabetical order:
· Laena Good (Manotick, ON)
· Nicola McLeod (Georgetown, ON)
· Addilyn Rolph (Brussels, ON)
· Skylar Sanchez (Richmond Hill, ON)
In addition, two (2) Grants of Potential of five-hundred dollars are awarded to:
· Lachlan Alexander (Amaranth, ON)
· Zoey Edwards (Wasaga Beach, ON)
Said Sarah Richardson, President of the OEA, “Once again we are moved by the commitment of the Haque/Buren Family to continue to develop outstanding young riders in the sport of eventing. Under their dedication, The Zara Buren Memorial Award is one of the largest cash awards in this sport in Canada. It is an award that fosters excellence, on all levels, from horsemanship to sportsmanship, and it is a testament to this remarkable family, and this young woman, Zara Buren, whose legacy lives on.”
Congratulations once again to this year’s applicants and all our recipients. We look forward to following your eventing journey over the next twelve months.