HELP COLLEEN RUTLEDGE GET TO BADMINTON!

Colleen Rutledge is a Four Star event rider from Mt. Airy, Maryland. In 2011, she rode in her first Four Star competition at Rolex on her 15 year old off the track Thoroughbred Shiraz and finished 12th in a star studded field that included most of the best from the U.S., Canada and Great Britain. Five months later, Colleen and Shiraz, stable name Luke, ventured across The Pond to tackle the Burghley Horse Trials, acknowledged by elite eventers to have the toughest cross country course in the world. Luke breezed through the jumping phases making it all look like child’s play. A less than stellar dressage phase, something Colleen acknowledges is a work in progress, kept them out of the top placings, but in their quiet way, this pair caught the public’s fancy.

At this point in the story, it must be pointed out that Colleen was not approved for a USET summer travel grant for the Burghley trip, but paid for it with funds raised by the hard work and creativity of her family and friends. It is also important to note that Colleen and her husband have three children, two of whom have special needs, and they are not endowed with stunning wealth.

This past autumn, the USET selectors published their list of  47 rider/horse combinations who were eligible for training and future consideration for spots on international competition teams. There is an A List, a B List, and a Developing Rider List with several riders listed with multiple horses. The fact that Colleen and Shiraz were left off any list stunned the eventing world, especially considering that three of the included horse/rider combinations had never competed together.

Why should we care?

If you are like me, things that I perceive as unfair or unjust infuriate me to the point of sleeplessness. Colleen has announced that she and Luke will enter the Badminton Horse Trials in England next spring, and this trip like the Burghley endeavor, will be self funded. Meanwhile, she will continue her training with long time coach and eventing icon Jim Wofford along with intense dressage work with Linda Zang, an equally iconic figure in the world of dressage.

Instead of responding positively to the USET’s annual request for donations to help fund our international teams, I sent a donation to help Colleen get to Badminton. It was easy, and I hope that anyone else touched by her story will see fit to donate. Every little bit helps!

Colleen is eleigible to receive money from the American Horse Trials Foundation, and in turn. Donations are tax deductible. Go to www.athf3day.org, click on “Donate” and follow the instructions.