Help Mia McMillan Represent Australia in Cutting at the National High School Rodeo Finals

My name is Mia McMillan, and I am incredibly honoured to have been selected to represent Australia in the discipline of Cutting at the National High School Rodeo Finals in Lincoln, Nebraska this July.

This is the world’s largest youth rodeo, and to be chosen to compete on this stage is something I am so proud of. It is an opportunity that has come from years of hard work, early mornings, long drives, late nights, and a whole lot of love for horses.

My horse journey started when I was very young. Before cutting, I competed in mini trotting, where I learnt so much about responsibility, discipline, horsemanship and never giving up. I was lucky enough to achieve some amazing things from a young age, including winning the State Mini Trotting Championships at Tamworth and later being selected as one of the NSW representatives for the Mini Trot Inter Dominion. I also had the honour of winning the Mini Trotters Miracle Mile at Menangle.

As I grew, my love for horses led me into the sport of cutting — a sport that takes patience, feel, timing, courage and a huge amount of trust between horse and rider. Cutting has become my passion, and over the past few years I have been working hard to keep improving, learning and competing against some of the best youth riders in the country.

Some of my recent cutting achievements include winning Junior Youth titles, taking out the Junior Youth Championship at the AQHA Q25 National Show, and placing first in the NHSFR Cutting Qualifier with a score of 216.5. To now have the opportunity to wear the green and gold and represent Australia in Nebraska is something I will never take for granted.

This trip comes with significant costs, especially as it involves international travel and competing with horses overseas. Funds raised will help cover expenses such as:

• Horse hire and transport to the event

• Stable hire, bedding, feed and horse care

• Training access and practice cattle

• Competition costs

• Travel, accommodation and transport expenses

• The essential costs involved in representing Australia safely and professionally

My family and I are doing everything we can to make this dream possible, but we are reaching out for support to help get me there.

This opportunity is not just about competing overseas. It is about showing other young kids from country families that big dreams are possible if you are willing to work hard for them. I am also so proud to be an inspiration to my younger siblings. One of the most special moments for me was taking my little brother Riley cutting for the first time — seeing him look up to me and want to be part of the sport reminded me how much this journey means, not just to me, but to my family too.

Representing Australia is a huge honour, and I am committed to giving it everything I have — for my family, my team, my community, and everyone who has supported me along the way.

Any donation, no matter the size, will go directly towards helping me compete at the National High School Rodeo Finals in Nebraska.

Thank you so much for supporting my dream and helping me proudly represent Australia on the world stage.

Mia