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Kirsty gallops her way to success, thanks to Alumni Fund 

30 November 2015

Kirsty ShortSecond year Sports Education and Psychology student and rising star in eventing, Kirsty Short, is one of the recipients of this year’s Alumni Fund Award for Sport – thanks to the generous donations of former students.

Kirsty started horse riding when she was just three years old. Her mother thought it would be a nice hobby, but it quickly turned into an obsession. By the time she was 12 she was competing, and at 13 eventing was her passion. She’s been to the famous Burghley Horse Trials every year since, dreaming of one day competing there.

Kirsty trains seven days a week and a typical day consists of waking up at 6.00 am, mucking out the horses, going home to freshen up, before leaving the house at 8.00 am for her morning lectures. She said: “I’m usually finished for 1.00 pm, so I grab some lunch and head back to the stables. I do all my uni work in the evening. I have to manage my time really carefully.”

Hopefully 2016 will see Kirsty back at Burghley and competing nationwide at various events.  She said:  

“My youngest horse, Cortage, is now qualified to go to his first international.  I think he might be my next super star. I would love to do Nations Cups with him.

“My top horse, Cossan Lad, has now completed 2 CCI**** which is the highest level in our sport. And my ‘middle child’, Quite Easy, has been an amazing.  He is eight and had a super season placing at intermediate level and completed his first CIC**.

“My ambition is, of course, to represent my country at an Olympic Games, but Team GB is very competitive. 

“I’m so grateful to the alumni for supporting me.  It’s a great opportunity and it will help me so much with pursuing my career in eventing whilst studying for my degree.”