NICOLE KULLEN.com
About Nikshar Stud
About Nikshar Stud Page Last Updated:
3 February 2008
Nikshar
Stud was founded
by Nicole Kullen with the purchase of the Purebred Arabian Mare 'Pinnaroo Mary'
in 1993.
(pic left)
It was from there that her dream started to evolve
Nicole aims to breed horses with type, presence, good conformation and most of all great temperaments
Nicole feels that there is no beauty in breeding an amazing horse that no one can ride or handle
Nikshar has slowly grown since 1993 & I've been blessed with some beautiful foals
In February 2005 Nikshar relocated to a beautiful, undulating property located near Bathurst N.SW with plenty of room for our horses to move and grow
We're located there with Mr Peter Keyes of Jamil Razah Stud who specializes in the Arabian, Welsh & Shetland Breeds
With great support from the start I've slowly been able to live my dreams
My mum Margaret has always been my biggest support. Without her encouragement and love I wouldn't be here today
To find out more, go to My Profile Page
At present Nikshar is a small stud with some beautiful horses & ponies
We specialize in Purebred Arabians, Arabian Derivatives (Arabian Warmbloods & Arabian Ponies), and Welsh breeds
At Nikshar we're presently
commencing a breeding program to breed more towards Arabian Ponies &
Welsh Ponies, but will still continue with our other breeding programs
We're also involved in Para Equestrian & Dressage Competition with the Equestrian Federation of Australia (EFA), the Riding for the Disabled Association of Australia (RDAA) & the FEI (International).
In 1996 I was struck down with Meningococcal Meningitis Septicemia.
I lost both lower legs, all function & feeling in both hands & wrists & partial use of my arms & all of my internal organs were damaged, plus I now rely on Peritoneal Dialysis 4 times a day due to my kidneys failing.
My initial admission from my illness became a long six months journey in hospital between Intensive Care Units to High Dependency & Burns Wards & then eventually to Rehabilitation & the Adolescence Wards.
Plus since then, I have had way too many hospital admissions to count & have a life time of recovery & dealing with my degenerative health & disabilities ahead of me.
My illness has not only impacted
heavily on the lives of my Mum & I, it has also impacted on my animals
both big & small, & the direction in which Nikshar would go.
There is a bigger need now for our horses to be respectful & patient, & accepting to many different circumstances that they would normally never experience in their life time.
I still handle all my horses & ponies
including my foals.
Then in 2000 I began riding competitively, winning many titles.
My most recent riding achievements include;
I was awarded the 2005 RDAA
Australian National Dressage Champion for my classified grade at a
competition run under IPEC Rules with visiting countries Hong Kong & New
Zealand being represented by their riders attending the competition.
I've also been on the RDAA National Dressage Squad since 2002 & as of
2006 have been selected as part of the Australian Para Equestrian
Dressage Paralympic Preperation Squad (PPP Squad) which is one more step
closer towards fulfilling one of my ultimate goals.
I've also represented Australia at the CPDI4**** International Para Equestrian Competition in Belgium in Sept 2006.
This event was also a Paralympic Qualifier event for the 2008 Beijing Paralympics, & after a very successful event, I'm now qualified for selection for Beijing.
I was also awarded the prestigious
'2005 EFA NSW RDA Rider of the Year' award.
Plus I was selected to represent Australia at the 2007 FEI World Para Equestrian Dressage Championships held in the UK in July 2007, and I won a Silver & a Bronze at the event.
After my illness, the first way for me to get back into competing was to show Miniature Horses. Their size and personalities were great especially will my physical limitations. I began competing in the Show and Performance arenas with my Miniature Horse gelding 'Bobby' and then I showed my other Miniature Horse gelding Ziggy.
I showed both my geldings from my electric wheelchair and we won numerous titles together including two main titles;
National Grand Champion Gelding of All Miniature Breeds
at a National level Show
Reserve Champion 2yo Futurity Horse
(the Champion was taken out by a beautifully bred filly, and he 'as a gelding' beat all the colts and other fillies in the ring)
I truly believe that the
diversity my illness & disabilities have brought to my horses have shown
others how true their personalities & temperament are, & have carried on
thru to their
progeny, who even as young, show an understanding & acceptance beyond
their
years.
I hope these experiences will help them in their future with myself or others as they mature & progress to their career under saddle & as life long friends.
I know without them I would not get thru most days. They've not only kept me going during my horrible problems related with my illness, but thru many hard times including the loss of my son Kyle in 2003.
With the help of my Mum, horses & animals I returned to riding & have achieved a great deal. Which I hope to continue!
All my horses
are used to being around my electric wheelchair both young &
old.
They are led by myself from my electric wheelchair and the foals that have not yet been halter trained are used to having my chair in the paddocks with them just like their mothers.
But I do also teach the foals to lead from the electric wheelchair during & after their initial halter training & beyond with great results.
I also have a great support network & without them helping me with the many day to day tasks that I physically can not do, Nikshar would not be where it is today!
Visitors to Nikshar Stud are always welcome, by appointment
For further information about our horses, please
go to the 'Nikshar Stud Horses' page
Contact
Nikshar Stud Owner
Nicole Kullen
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