Our new corporate blog is about creating a platform that offers real insight into the work being carried out by Horse Sport Ireland on behalf of the industry and which also allows industry experts, Horse Sport Ireland staff and Team Ireland Equestrian athletes to share their knowledge, advice and experience with the wider sport horse industry.
Whether you are a breeder, horse owner, rider or equestrian sports fan you will find a lot of information on various topics related to the sport horse industry in Ireland.
This week Ireland’s Paralympic dressage team of Rosemary Gaffney with Werona, Kate Kerr Horan with Serafina T, Tamsin Addison with Fahrenheit and Michael Murphy with Cleverboy, managed by Debora Pijpers will get their campaign underway in Tokyo. Ahead of the competition, Leanne O’Sullivan caught up with team member Michael Murphy to talk about his journey to the Games and what it means to him to represent his country.
There is only one word that truly befits para-dressage athlete Michael Murphy and that is – inspirational.
Despite being born with a rare condition called Dejerine-Sottas which has left him with severe muscle weakness and a lack of motor control, Michael chooses to focus on achieving his dream, to represent Ireland at the Paralympics, and in doing so inspires the people around him to reach greatness in their own right.
Michael recalls how this dream was hatched with great clarity, “I was seven at the time and I was competing at the RDA [Riding for the Disabled Association] regionals. I remember riding my pony into a halt during our dressage test and you were supposed to halt for about five seconds. I decided to count the seconds aloud so that everyone knew I had done it for the recommended time. It wasn’t really the appropriate thing to do, but I subsequently qualified for the RDA Nationals and that is where it all started. By the age of 10, I was riding at junior international level in para-dressage and I remember thinking to myself – I’m going to go all the way to the Paralympics.”
Michael admits: “I obviously didn’t quite realise at that age all of the work that it would take to actually get there but I certainly had decided then that this is what I wanted to do.”
The Power of Sport
A truly amazing achievement, but even more so when you consider how Michael’s equestrian journey began. “At age four, my doctor suggested I try horse riding as a form of physical therapy. I remember going to Penniwells, a local riding centre that catered for people with disabilities, and the first pony I sat on was called Nikki. According to my mum I had a smile on my face the entire time. I do remember I had a great time and after that I started going every week and slowly I was able to lose the people who were there holding onto me while I was riding to make sure I didn’t fall off. So, it definitely helped with my strength and I really enjoyed that.
“The RDA were fantastic, Sarah Healing was overseeing my therapy and she saw that I not only loved horse riding and that I was getting stronger as a result but she saw potential in me too and she really took me under her wing. When I showed an interest in competing, she was always there to offer advice and help when needed. But it wasn’t just me, she gave every rider an equal opportunity to reach their full potential. The RDA is a fantastic organisation and I wouldn’t be where I am today without their help and support.”
