Mason Phelps Jr.
{{Short description|American equestrian (1949–2021)}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Mason Phelps III
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| birth_name =
| birth_date = 1949
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| death_date = {{Death date and age|2021|05|19|1946}}
| nationality = American
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| occupation = Equestrian and public relations
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| employer = Phelps Media Group
| title =
| known_for = Member of the 1968 US Olympic equestrian team
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| website = [http://www.phelpsmediagroup.com/ Phelps Media Group]
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}}
Mason Phelps III (1949 – 19 May 2021{{Cite web|last=Pieters|first=Savannah|date=2021-05-25|title=Voormalig Amerikaans eventingruiter Mason Phelps Jr. overleden|url=https://www.horses.nl/overig-nieuws/overlijden/voormalig-amerikaans-eventingruiter-mason-phelps-jr-overleden/|access-date=2021-05-26|website=Horses.nl|language=nl}}{{cite web |title=Olympic Equestrians |url=http://www.glbtq.com/arts/olympic_equestrians.html |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029215309/http://www.glbtq.com/arts/olympic_equestrians.html |archivedate=October 29, 2013 |accessdate=December 11, 2013 |publisher=GLTBQ.com}}), often referred to as "Mason Phelps Jr.", was an American equestrian rider, founder of Phelps Media Group, and an Olympian. He was also president of the National Horse Show.
Equestrian career
In 1965, Phelps attended his first United States Equestrian Team Clinic at the age of sixteen. He competed in the World Championships in Ireland, where he earned 12th place.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rcj2e6AdOZ8C&dq=Mason+Phelps+olympics&pg=PA6 |title=A Sunday Horse: Inside the Grand Prix Show Jumping Circuit |author=Vicky Moon |page=6 |accessdate=December 11, 2013 |year=2004 |publisher=Capital Books|isbn=9781931868419 }} Next Phelps earned a position as an alternate with the US equestrian team on the 1968 Summer Olympics Three Day Eventing squad.{{cite news |url=http://www.pbpulse.com/news/entertainment/the-scene-maker-hes-all-about-horses/nMR7M/ |title=The scene maker: He's all about horses |date=June 27, 2011 |accessdate=December 11, 2013 |author=Barbara Marshall |newspaper=The Palm Beach Post}} That year he was also named U.S. Combined Training Association's Rider of the Year.
In the early 1970s, Phelps opened a stable and began training hunters and jumpers. He also became an event manager for equestrian shows. He founded the San Antonio AA Rated Xmas Show and the New England Horseman's Association Hunt Seat Medal in Springfield, Massachusetts. Phelps would also become the president of the National Horse Show, where he among other things oversaw the event move its annual location to Lexington, Kentucky.{{cite web |url=http://www.alltech.com/blog/posts/mason-phelps-feels-home-alltech-national-horse-show |title=Mason Phelps Feels At Home At The Alltech National Horse Show |accessdate=December 11, 2013}} He was also the event organizer for the 2012 World Dressage Masters,{{cite news |url=http://articles.philly.com/2012-01-25/news/30663473_1_equestrian-center-world-dressage-masters-horse-community |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131220020855/http://articles.philly.com/2012-01-25/news/30663473_1_equestrian-center-world-dressage-masters-horse-community |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 20, 2013 |title=Florida's equestrian set keeps its eyes on the GOP race |date=January 25, 2012 |accessdate=December 11, 2013 |newspaper=Philadelphia Inquirer |author=Melissa Dribben}} and founded the International Jumping Derby.{{cite web |url=http://www.equestriansocialmediaawards.com/judges/mason-phelps-980 |title=Mason Phelps |publisher=Equestrian Social Media Awards 2014 |accessdate=December 11, 2013}}
Phelps Media Group
In 2002 Phelps co-founded the public relations firm Phelps, Wilkes & Associates. Their first client was the National Horse Show, which was moving its location from Madison Square Garden in NYC to Wellington, Florida.Moon, 8. In 2004 Phelps founded the Phelps Media Group as an equestrian-oriented public relations agency. It helps equestrian shows put together and market their events, in addition to serving as a public relations representative to members of the equestrian community. In 2011 Phelps was named to the Wellington Chamber of Commerce President's Circle, for building "America's most progressive and successful equestrian public relations firm".{{cite news |url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2011-11-09/news/fl-wf-mason-1109-20111109_1_equestrian-world-mason-phelps-equestrian-industry |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130723141255/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2011-11-09/news/fl-wf-mason-1109-20111109_1_equestrian-world-mason-phelps-equestrian-industry |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 23, 2013 |title=Phelps named to Wellington Chamber's President's Circle |date=November 9, 2011 |author=Nadia Sorocka |accessdate=December 11, 2013 |newspaper=Sun-Sentinel}}
Philanthropy
In 1996, after the death of his brother to AIDS, Phelps and Robert Dover founded the Equestrian AIDS Foundation, in order to raise money for those in the equestrian community suffering from HIV/AIDS. The organization has since changed its name to the Equestrian Aid Foundation, as it began also raising and distributing money to those in the equestrian community that have suffered calamitous injuries in the sport. Phelps helped the Florida charity Back to Basics, which provides basic essentials children need to go to school.{{cite news |url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2012-12-28/news/fl-wf-rotary-1226-20121228_1_basics-perham-annual-holiday-luncheon |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130405172757/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2012-12-28/news/fl-wf-rotary-1226-20121228_1_basics-perham-annual-holiday-luncheon |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 5, 2013 |newspaper=Sun-Sentinel |title=Phelps helps {{sic|fufill|nolink=y}} the wishlists of children in need |date=December 28, 2012 |author=Nadia Sorocka |accessdate=December 11, 2013}} In addition, he threw charity events and galas, including events in support of the United States Equestrian Team—raising more than a million dollars between 1996 and 2002.Moon, 7.
Personal life
Phelps' father was Mason Phelps, and his mother was Peggy Phelps. He was one of three children, including his late brother Taylor who was the road manager for Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, and later worked for Stephen Stills, The Band and Neil Young.{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/OBITUARY-Taylor-Phelps-3021322.php |accessdate=December 11, 2013 |date=October 24, 1995 |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |title=Obituary: Taylor Phelps}} Phelps was one of many gay equestrians and noted "I would say that many gays are involved in the horse world{{nbsp}}... It is certainly no secret. This is a very accepting community."[http://www.glbtq.com/arts/olympic_equestrians.html Olympic Equestrians] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029215309/http://www.glbtq.com/arts/olympic_equestrians.html |date=2013-10-29 }}{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070422171418/http://www.expressgaynews.com/2004/7-9/arts/feature/index.cfm Trotting Down a Different Path:Gays play an important role in Wellington’s equestrian community]}} He organized an annual Gay Polo Tournament, for the Gay Polo League.
[http://www.barnmice.com/group/barnmicenews/forum/topics/gay-polo-tournament-mason-phelps-and-jennifer-benoit-featured-in- Gay Polo Tournament: Mason Phelps and Jennifer Benoit Featured in Dressage Pas de Deux Exhibition at Fourth Annual International Gay Polo Tournament]
References
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External links
- [http://www.phelpsmediagroup.com/Phelps Media Group]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Phelps, Mason}}
Category:American horse trainers
Category:American male equestrians
Category:American public relations people
Category:Equestrians at the 1968 Summer Olympics
Category:Founders of sporting institutions
Category:American gay sportsmen
Category:Olympic equestrians for the United States
Category:Sportspeople from Wellington, Florida