Can You Help Para-Equestrian Morgan Webb Liddle and 'Ralphy' Stay Together?

In Warmblood gelding Don Armani (aka Ralphy) 20 year old Grade 1A Para-Equestrian competitor, Morgan Webb Liddle, has found what we all hope for - a perfect equine match. Unfortunately Morgan, who faces daily challenges with her disability, doesn't own Ralphy and now his current owner has to sell him. Morgan is desperately looking for help to ensure her partnership with this wonderful horse can continue.

Despite complex medical problems that would have most of us giving up, Morgan has always been determined to overcome any obstacles. “I don’t let my disabilities get in the way. I have always loved horses and there is a strong bond between us. My relationship with horses is special. I don’t experience the barriers I encounter every day in communication with people and I don’t experience the lack of mobility I deal with every day. When I leave my wheelchair behind and ride I feel like I’m not just the kid that can’t walk or talk anymore and I have a different identity. I become the power, freedom and grace of the horse.”

Ralphy, a Donnerheist warmblood trained by Charlotte Pedersen, has helped Morgan to achieve this different identity. "Ralphy is an amazing horse with beautiful movement and a lovely temperament and he is perfectly suited to a rider like me. Such horses are extremely difficult to find and I am desperately trying to work out a way to keep him. I am looking for people or businesses to contribute to help ensure that I can ride and compete Ralphy, now in preparation for the selection trials for the World Equestrian Games (WEG) next year. He is an expensive horse and he will require ongoing training. Ralphy and I have developed a wonderful partnership and I hope we can somehow stay together."

Ralphy is currently owned by a Japanese rider who has returned to live there and wants the horse sold. There are Nationality requirements for horses competing at WEG and Olympics - Morgan has to ride an Australian owned horse to be eligible to compete for Australia, so Ralphy needs to be owned by an Australian.

Along with Ralphy, Morgan and her coach Charlotte Pedersen make a fantastic team. "As well as being a Grand Prix rider herself, Charlotte is the best coach ever and she is definitely able to help me get the best out of Ralphy. There is a lot of very specialised training that needs to go into preparing a horse for a 1A rider and we can learn a lot from the techniques used by Team GB, who have been so successful over a very long time. Together we will be a great team."

READ MORE ABOUT RALPHY HERE

More about Morgan

Morgan, who lives in Kyneton, Victoria, was born with a very rare metabolic disorder, a Congenital Disorder of Glycosylation (CDG).

This affects muscles throughout her body, causing severe physical disability. It also results in many complex medical problems. There are only about 700 known cases of the condition world-wide and the associated medical problems are not well understood.

At present there is no cure but research in this area is progressing. As a result of CDG Morgan has severe ataxia, that is, very little balance, poor coordination and low muscle tone with tremors in her hands plus a number of other medical problems. Her vision and perception are also affected. She is unable to stand or walk independently now.

During Morgan’s teenage years she spent three years immobilised in a metal brace from her hips to under her chin to try to slow progressive spinal problems. Morgan was unable to ride during this time but in January 2010 she returned to riding and within the year started competing in FEI Para-Dressage.

Morgan’s speech is also severely affected and it is difficult for her to speak and respond quickly. She often uses a Lightwriter®, a small text-to-speech device similar to that used by Prof Stephen Hawking, to type what she wants to say but because of the tremors in her hands this can take some time and it makes communicating very difficult. Morgan can speak but it is slow and often difficult to understand.

Long-Term and Short Term Goals

Because her condition is progressing, Morgan wants to achieve all that she can in the time that she is still be able to ride. I missed out on qualifying for the London Paralympics by 0.9% which was very disappointing. The next world championship for Para-Equestrians is the World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Normandy 2014 and that is what Morgan is aiming for. "It is less likely that I will still be able to ride by the 2016 Paralympics in Rio," says Morgan, "So I need to put all my time, money and effort into getting an internationally competitive horse for WEG. My own beautiful horse Sienna Tailor Made, who has given me so much success, is now too old to be considered for selection."

"I also need to gain international competition experience. Living in Australia, it is impossible to gain that experience because only one 3* event for Para-Equestrians is run here every two years. So I need to go overseas. Last year my parents contributed and fundraised a total of $12,000 to help me go to a US Paralympic Qualifier in Del Mar, USA. I came home with One 1st and two 2nd places. My goals are therefore to ride in one of the major European competitions in 2013 and find an international standard dressage horse on which to compete in the Australian selections for WEG. I really feel that Ralphy is that horse."

Coaches Comments

Charlotte Pederson, an Equestrian Australia Level 2 Dressage Coach and Danish Riding Master, is highly impressed by Morgan. "I have coached Morgan since 2011 in which time she has progressed to being an internationally competitive Para-Equestrian. Morgan is one of the most severely disabled athletes competing at international level in Para-Equestrian and she is working towards selection to represent Australia in the World Equestrian Gamesin Normandy in 2014. Her ability, dedication and hardwork have resulted in her becoming Riding for the Disabled Para-Equestrian Grade 1A National Champion 2012. This talented and inspiring young rider merits the opportunity to compete an international standard dressage horse to take her to the top level of competition in her sport. Morgan and Ralphy make an elegant and competitive team."

Aside from her riding, Morgan is completing her coaching qualifications (Certificate IV Sports Coaching - Equestrian) and writes and presents on Congenital Disorder of Glycosylation (CDG) and Para-Equestrian.

Morgan’s Motto

Tell me it can't be done

and I will do it.

Tell me the goal is too high

and I will reach it.

Place an obstacle in front of me

and I will soar over it.

Challenge me, dare me, or even defy me.

But do not underestimate me.

For on the back of my horse

Anything is possible.

ANON

If there is any way you can help Morgan and Ralphy stay together or if you would like to learn more about Morgan, please contact: Merell Liddle Ph 0417 770 036 or Charlotte Pedersen 0418 597 999.

Quick Links

• Visit Morgan's website www.teammorgan.com.au to find out more
• Visit and 'Like' Morgan's Facebook page to show your support
• View Ralphy's advertisement on Horsezone for more details about him

Story: Jo Johnson/Horsezone   Photos: Merell Liddle