Of Para mount
IMPORTANCE ...
Written by Louise Parkes
As every athlete knows , it can take a long time to find the right horse , and for Para athletes , it can be even more of a challenge . But there are plenty of suitable candidates out there if you look in the right place , and sometimes they come along in the most unexpected ways ….
When Ireland ' s Michael Murphy was setting off for CPEDI at München- Riem , Germany last month , he had just one target in mind , posting a qualifying score for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games with a mark of 62 % or above . So when he won the Grade 1 Team Test with 73.393 %, topped the individual with 76.488 % and was runner-up in the Kur to Music with 78.4 % it was much more than mission accomplished . He looks well set to achieve his lifetime dream of Paralympic participation in Tokyo in a few months .
" I ' ve never had scores like those before !" says the 24-year-old British-based rider . His success was the result of hard work , a great support team that includes his mother , Sue , and his trainer Elder Klatzko and of course his fabulous new horse - the aptly named Cleverboy , whose stable-name is Charlie . " He ' s brilliant for Para , he ' s so kind and so willing , and he just wants to please ", Murphy points out .
The 14-year-old KWPN gelding competed up to Grand Prix level with British rider Bronte Watson , who always wanted Charlie to continue in the sport when his main career came to an end . Watson already had a plan in mind when she took him to the CDI3 * at Keysoe ( GBR ) last October , where the Irish
Irish Para athlete Michael Murphy has already established a great relationship with his fabulous new horse , Cleverboy .
( Photo : Michael Murphy Dressage )
athlete tried him and the result was a perfect match .
" Charlie loves going places and being involved in things ; you can do anything with him . He is the safest horse !" Watson says . " I used to loan him to other people for prizegivings because he just loves the attention , and going to Michael is everything I could have wished for him because all this horse has ever wanted is to feel special , and I know he ' ll be very happy !"
EVERYTHING HORSE MAGAZINE : JULY 2021 • 45