Colleen Kelly

Colleen Kelly

Biomechanics Specialist

Background

Colleen Kelly started her career in exercise science, working in rehabilitation gymnasiums. She then continued on to manage a scientific research report system for the University of New South Wales in Australia for 8 years. After continuing her education she is now well-known as being one of only three Research Fellows of the International Society of Rider Biomechanics and lectures at the most prestigious conferences and Universities around the world.

Classically trained in dressage by some of the world masters, Colleen received a remarkable 100% in the Official Dressage Judge’s Exam, and was given the honor of being asked to give 15 presentations at the World Equestrian Games. With 45 years of riding experience and highly successful competition in showing, dressage, endurance, polo-crosse and camp-draft, Colleen has gone on to instruct world-famous Olympians, Para Equestrians, and has now worked with 8 World Champions in many different disciplines (including vaulting). She is also the founding president of Vaulting Victoria and her work was recently recognized by the USDF as an Official University program event.

Her talent to break problem horses has led to great success with several of these rogue animals becoming so gentle that they are ridden by disabled riders at the National Championships for Para-Equestrians. As a four-time recipient of awards from Riding for Disabled, her love of working with riders with physical problems and disabilities is quite evident.

An Australian native, Colleen has spoken at some of the world’s largest Eventing & Dressage events held by the Equestrian Federation of Australia, USA & Canada and was keynote speaker at the Grand Prix Dressage Judge’s event in Canada.