We’re back to highlight another #Supergroom! Congratulations to Sophie Tullar, head groom for Mia Farley, for winning the Buckeye Best Turned-Out Award at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian. Catch up on the other interviews from this series here and nominate a #Supergroom of your own by emailing [email protected].
This series is supported by Achieve Equine.
“It was surreal to be with Mia and Phelps at the event! I feel so lucky that I was there to support them,” Sophie Tullar says.
Mia Farley’s head groom, Sophie Tullar, is truly Phelps’s biggest fan. She truly enjoys making sure he’s in tip top shape, but winning the Buckeye Best Turned-Out Award at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian was just the cherry on top.
“I was so shocked, but it’s incredible. Phelps makes my job so easy and I love him so much. It makes me so happy to make him look good.”
After working for Mia on and off for around two and a half years, Sophie graduated high school last year and has been working for her full time since then. Sophie’s mom is a trainer, so she’s been riding horses before she was born – literally.
Sophie’s always loved being involved with horses, and her love for Phelps is noticeable.
“He’s very humble and unassuming. He loves to work and to have people around. He’s just a happy guy,” she says.
Smooches for Phelps. Sophie Tullar and Phelps at Defender Kentucky. Photo by JJ Silliman.
Sophie likes to allow Phelps to be just a horse as often as possible. “He loves to be outside, so we try to have him out as much as we can.”
Since Phelps was Mia’s only horse at Kentucky, Sophie was able to take him on walks and get him out of his stall as much as possible.
When it comes to favorite products, Sophie says that Shires is their best bet for making Phelps look and feel his best. You can never go wrong with a good curry and some baby oil for shine as well. “Less is more with him, so I try not to get carried away with anything.”
She makes it a priority for Phelps to get time to himself without being bothered. The night before cross country, she sets everything out and makes sure that the day can go as smoothly as possible.
“I try to make sure that I have no excuses to be bothering him before I need to, so he has as much time as he can to just be a horse,” Sophie says.
Cross country is a strong suit for Phelps, and even though Mia and Sophie tell him it’s just a normal day, of course he gets amped up when he watches the 4* cross country going by while Sophie grazes him. It’s his time to shine!
Sophie Tullar and Phelps at Defender Kentucky. Photo by JJ Silliman.
After his double clear cross country round, Phelps recovered fast. “He’s like, ‘Ok guys I’m ready to go again!’” After a bit of time to himself, Phelps gets iced and Sophie makes sure that he feels good and is ready for show jumping the next day.
“He recovers so well, so he makes my job really easy,” Sophie says. They’re based right in Lexington, so Phelps was able to make it home to his coveted turnout by Sunday night after placing 13th at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Mars Equestrian.
“He’s been on vacation since then and has had a lot of fun rolling in the mud. He’s happy as can be.”
Phelps is only 11 and he and Mia will definitely be a pair to keep your eye on in the years to come. They are lucky to have Sophie in their corner, always making sure Phelps is happy and at his best.
“I can’t wait to see all the places he goes. Just watching him on cross country is so incredible. There aren’t many like him out there.”
Go Sophie and Go Eventing.
