A JUDGES PERSPECTIVE Colleen Rutherford
C
with Jeff Wallace
I understand that the Arabian horse is a family affair for you, please tell me a little bit about that. My husband, Doug, and I managed two of Australia’s high profile Arabian farms for many years. We covered all aspects: managing the farms, the pastures, the breeding, foaling, show training and conditioning, as well as exhibiting. It gave us the opportunity to work and appreciate various bloodlines. For ourselves, we bred and showed many Australian National winners. Our daughter, Kelli Greene, together with her husband and his Tell us about your family, breed beautiful background in Australia Arabian horses at The with Arabian horses. For Palms Arabians. Kelli many years I have worked has her own successful on committees through Colleen with Abu Shaklan (SK Shakla Khan (Imp) x Joda Excitation). business with ‘Arabians NSW and Queensland to Australia’, marketing through e-blasts, advertisements promote the breed, run shows and parades; anything and web design, which are distributed worldwide. So to get the Arabian horse out in front of the public. my passion for the Arabian horse continues at least for In 2011, I received a phone call inviting me to a few more generations of Arabian horses. become a founding director with The Arabian Horse Breeders Alliance of Australasia (AHBAA), due to What does your dream horse look like? Oh goodness! my commitment and determination to promote the My dream horse could be any color, but it would be purebred Arabian. The AHBAA are an affiliated group elegant, balanced and cover the ground with a long with the American Breeders Alliance. In Australia we rhythmic stride; have huge eyes, a fine muzzle and showcase the purebred Arabian horse at Equitana—an broad forehead, and show an exuberance for life with a all-breeds horse festival—to an audience of nontail that naturally fly’s high. Arabian horse owners. Rotated between two states, we have the highest caliber of horses competing with Who was the first Arabian horse that you laid eyes a limited time and number of horses. Because of this, on and what was that experience like. This goes back our entry period fills up within 24 hours. The AHBAA to my early childhood. My cousin had a dapple-grey sees the future of the Australasian Breeders Cup stallion—he was unlike any other horse I had ever seen. becoming known as spectacle acknowledged worldwide. He was rather arrogant and so proud; ‘life and fire’ fine It is already a highlight for breeders on the Australian skin and a beautiful sculptured head. I was captivated Arabian horse show schedule. With more corporate from that moment, and it’s been a lifelong passion and sponsorship, we will be able to continually promote our pursuit ever since. amazing breed in Australia. olleen, we are looking forward to seeing you in America. Are you also excited to make this trip to the U.S.? I was absolutely thrilled to receive the invitation to judge at the Arabian Breeders World Cup. To have this opportunity to visit your country and to view your beautiful horses and judge at this show that is renowned throughout the world for its quality of horses is an honor. I love that the breeders are the real winners and receive the recognition.
Volume 45, No. 11 | 157