Nicole Kullen

In 1996, Nicole Kullen, an up and coming star in the equestrian industry, contracted meningococcal meningitis septicemia. After six weeks in an induced coma, on life support, she spent the next six months in hospital recovering from her illness and rehabilitating. Both Nicole’s lower legs were amputated, she lost all function in both her hands and wrists and her arm movement and strength were limited, as well as all her internal organs being damaged. Nicole is also on peritoneal dialysis four times daily, which her mother Margaret, who is also Nicole’s full time carer, has to do as Nicole is unable to do it herself.

Since then, Nicole has found motivation and inspiration around her horses. In 2000, she began competing in dressage competitions with the Equestrian Federation of Australia (EFA) for able-bodied riders and the RDAA for riders with a disability.

Some of Nicole’s achievements include the 2005 RDAA National Dressage Champion for Grade Two; the 2005 EFA NSW RDA Rider of the Year Award and representing Australia at ‘The First International Combined Festival of Dressage’ at the International Para Equestrian Competition in Belgium in 2006.

At the 2007 FEI World Para Equestrian Dressage Championships, Nicole was the only Australian to medal at the event and the only rider on a borrowed horse to win a medal at the World Championships. She won a silver medal in the Championship and a bronze medal in the Freestyle to Music.