About Colleen Kelly

After receiving an unheard of 100% in the Judge's Dressage Examination and being awarded the position of Spokeswoman for the WorkCover Authority of NSW, Colleen started to become officially recognized for her unique and original work by being asked by Official Federations around the world to speak at:

► United States Equestrian Federation
2009 Youth Council Convention

► Equestrian Federation of Australia
2008 Melbourne 3DE. (Beijing Olympic Selection Trials). Sole presenter on the Biomechanics of the Eventer (to Olympic Level)

► Official State Coach's Clinics for Riding for Disabled for both NSW and WA.

► Canadian Dressage (CADORA) Key Note Speaker at the Canadian Dressage's Annual General Meeting & Official Grand Prix Judge's Examination. Vancouver Island.

► Saddleworld Winergy Dressage Festival (EFA Vic). Sole presenter on the Biomechanics for Dressage.

► Sporthorse WA Expo (World Cup Qualifier) (EFA WA)

► Diana Ferrari (one of the largest & most prestigious dressage events of its time in Australia) (EFA Vic)

Colleen has been invited to speak at Queensland University, Averett University Virginia, at the world-class New Bolton Centre, University of Pennsylvania, and the wonderful Equestrian Facility at Virginia Tech at Blacksburg, VA

They say "you get it from your family" & Colleen's great grandmother Mary Louise Berry (b.1836) was well known for training animals and breaking horses, and, probably because of her petite size, was unable to do the rough "rope them down" methods.

This kind method of breaking was followed by Colleen's Grandfather, Alan Manuel. Colleen has always trained animals learning carefully from her mother, Gwen Kelly who not only was a master horsewoman, but able to train trick animals - even able to train cats to do every animal trick you can think of!

Colleen's mother, Gwen rode for the very last time in the "Spirit of Pharlap" show at the age of 76, before recently passing away. She is missed desperately, and her training ledged goes on.

Colleen always rode, but first started competing in a few of the shorter endurance rides on the Gold Coast, but found her heart wasn't in the hours of pain! In the late 1970's Colleen started playing polocrosse with the Gold Coast Polocrosse Club and played 8 seasons with the club meeting some of the best friends she still has to this day.

Colleen became interested in showing after finding a horse that no-one else would ride, the magnificent (but naughty!) 18hh "Thendara Old Times" (photo right). After winning at the highest level Agricultural Shows, sadly, he was seriously scarred in a paddock accident and as she loved him dearly this was her chance to start pursuing a career in dressage. Colleen then had three beautiful horses given to her, one after another, by the Captain of the Australian National Polocrosse Team, Alex Hall (whose wife Jodie was the bridesmaid at Colleen's wedding). The first two were the magnificent black stallion Patrol, who Colleen trained and showed, then the wonderful little colt "Papke's Wisdom" who Colleen trained and sold to America and he is still standing in Las Vegas.

Then, finally Alex Hall gave Colleen the fabulous "Rex the Wonderhorse" and throughout the 90's Colleen owned, trained and performed with the well known trick and liberty act horse with his "sidekick" Patch the Wonderdog at many charity and fundraising events around Australia.

Colleen was then honored to be accepted to ride Mary Wanless, famous author of "Ride with Your Mind" at the magnificent "West Wilts" facility at Holt near Bath, England, and to this day Colleen credits a lot of her best work to this amazing lady.

Colleen was then invited to San Jose, California to help out behind the scenes with one of Mary Wanless' videos, and in fact is on the beginning (much younger and skinnier!) of one Mary's videos.

During all this time Colleen ran the Kelly family-owned "Thendara Equestrian Academy" on the Gold Coast. Colleen was well known for bringing the world's best clinicians to the facility for some of the most amazing weekend, and week-long clinics and camps. She was delighted to host the Head Rider from the Royal School in Spain, Manolo Mendez, Ali Goward & Equine Muscle Release Therapy, Narelle Stubbs, Physiotherapist to the Australian Olympic Equestrian Team, David Nicholls, Associate of the Worshipful Company of Farriers in England, and ran a highly motivated group of musical riders who performed at several events in South East Queensland.

After moving to Melbourne, Victoria, to train with the Head Rider from the Royal School in Spain: Manolo Mendez, Colleen continued her passion with quadrilles, freestyles and musical rides and is often seen behind the scenes at many gala evening performances. Colleen has also taught at the Lord Strathcona Mounted Garrison, Royal Canadian Mounted Police facility.

An Official Judge at the 1993 Sydney Royal Easter Show, the Arabian National Championships, the Eventing State Championships, the Appaloosa State Championships, and State Associations such as the ACT Dressage Association Agricultural Shows, Colleen has also judged and lectured for hundreds of clubs around Australia. Colleen has had many pupils on the Victorian State Dressage Squad, and many others on State and National Squads, and previous Olympic Long lists, and has work with several Paralympic medalists.

At Equitana Brisbane Colleen was approached by the Australian National Vaulting Coach, Darryn Fedricks to come and teach his own vaulting team in Queensland, and her love & training in trick riding blossomed into the official sport of Vaulting. Colleen has now had the honor of teaching & lecturing at Lone Star Vaulters, Texas, Mt. Tabor Vaulters, Virginia, Shea Rose Vaulters. Colleen has now twice been invited to work with the amazing professional equine acrobats "Big Horse Productions" at Equine Extravaganza where they presented together introducing the sport of vaulting & acrobatics. See amazing Big Horse Productions videos here:
View YouTube video.

Colleen is the founder and still remains the President of Vaulting Victoria.

Although Colleen is well-known for receiving a remarkable 100% in the Official Dressage Judge's Exam, and as a prolific author however it’s her “Irish Sense of Humor” and fun presentations that keep audiences around the world laughing, and has seen her awarded with 3 separate awards from Riding for Disabled.

So after endurance riding, polocrosse, campdraft, showing, dressage, judging, performance & trick training and vaulting, (and her partner Nick's involvement in Western Pleasure) combined with her studies in exercise physiology & biomechanics, Colleen has had one of the most remarkable all-round careers in horse riding.

If you like to have fun while you learn, Colleen is the clinician to see!

See our Mission Statement

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

This is the true joy in life; the being used for a purpose recognised by yourself as a mighty one.

The being a force of nature, instead of a feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy.

I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community, and as long as I live, it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can.

I want to be thoroughly used up when I die - for the harder I work, the more I live.

I rejoice in life for its own sake.

Life is no ‘brief candle’ to me; it is sort of a splendid torch which I have got hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations.

George Bernard Shaw.

First Riding Lesson??

Colleen at approx 7 years old at the Collison's "Guy Gallen" Moonan Flat, NSW. Australia From Left: "Aunty" Elaine Collison, Shauna Kelly (Sister), Colleen (on the front), Gwen Kelly (Mum), Sid Collison (with the "safety thongs!")

The massive 18hh show horse turned to dressage "Thendara Old Times"

Colleen is well known for training trick animals, especially the famous Rex the Wonderhorse and here with Patch the Wonderdog.

The quiet achievers. At home with one of the most respected and loved people in the horse riding profession. Colleen's partner Nick Tsopanis shown here with "Hawkeye"...they love their sport of western pleasure (Hawkeye was recently donated to the Therapeutic Riding Program Violet Banks Indoor, Westbury, Tas).