The dressage community stepped up to help Courtney Dye after a riding accident left her in a coma, raising $17,000 at the Top Shelf Dressage Under the Stars competition at the Player’s Club & Restaurant. The money will be used to offset Dye’s medical expenses. Dye remains in a coma two weeks after the fall, although she is breathing on her own.

“The whole night was about helping Courtney, and raising that amount of money was pretty incredible,” said Carol Cohen, of Two Swans Farm, who organized the riders throughout the Dressage Under the Stars series. “I am so proud of our community. Morgan Heinrichs, Courtney’s working student, rode a freestyle in Courtney’s honor, and Lendon Grey, Courtney’s long-time trainer, came and judged Dressage Under the Stars and updated us on Courtney.”

Young Rider Leah Wilson, who trains with Canadian Olympian Jacqueline Brooks, won the dressage competition during the evening and donated her $500 cash prize from the Players Club to Dye.

“The outpouring of love during the evening was amazing. Everyone was really digging deep into their pockets and not asking for anything in return,” Cohen said, adding that most of the audience purchased and wore green ribbons, the symbol for brain injury, with all of the proceeds going to Dye.