Kialla’s Malikah Rudge, 17, has been selected as Australia’s reserve rider for the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Malikah Rudge, 17, of Kialla has had her fair share of bad luck, but that hasn’t stopped her from forging her path towards her biggest dream – competing for Australia at the Olympics.
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Her current stepping stone on that journey is being selected as Australia’s reserve rider for the Dakar Summer Youth Olympic Games, running from October 31 to November 13, 2026.
Malikah achieved her certificate of capacity in October 2025, which is the minimum requirement to compete at an elite level.
She was then one of four riders who were invited to visit three-time Olympic medallist Shane Rose at his property in Camden, NSW to ride his horses and compete to be selected to ride for Australia at the Youth Olympic Games.
Malikah said she was honoured to be one of the four finalists and she enjoyed getting to know the other riders.
“It was an amazing experience, all the girls rode really well,” she said.
“Shane’s amazing, he’s represented Australia numerous times, he’s pretty awesome.
“It was great that we could be there to compete but still be supportive of each other.”
Malikah sat on a pony for the first time at only nine months old, with her father holding her.
“After that, I always thought about horses,” she said.
“They’re such kind creatures, and they have so much love to give.
“I love the trust that they put in you.”
Malikah has had a few challenging horses come her way, including her first horse, a naughty Shetland pony called Tawny, and a ‘crazy chestnut’ called Amber.
Despite their difficulties, Malikah is grateful for what they were able to teach her.
Malikah said one of her current horses, Rumour, was very tricky but had taught her so much.
Malikah lives on a Kialla property with her warmblood horse Bruce.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Malikah’s mother, Theresa Rudge, is very proud of her daughter and said she has sacrificed an awful lot.
“She’s the most resilient person I know on the planet,” she said.
Unwell in the months before achieving her certificate, Malikah was unable to attend an international competition in Brazil.
And while she hopes to get to the main Olympics one day, in the short term, she is looking forward to potentially competing in Europe or the United States.
“The universe is just testing how much I want it,” Malikah said.
“Ill continue to learn as much as I can and be the best rider that I can be.”
Malikah has a strong passion for creating a positive environment in equestrian sports, which led to her being named as one of Equestrian Victoria’s jumping young ambassadors for 2025.
At the state titles, she convinced the judges to introduce an integrity award to celebrate good sportsmanship and horsemanship.
In August, she will attend a pre-departure camp and receive a uniform.
If the selected competitor, Molly Mooney, is unable to compete, Malikah will take her place in Dakar.
