Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) is delighted to announce that Sue Shortt will lead the National Equestrian Federation’s Eventing High Performance Pony and Junior programme into the European Championships season in 2025.
Shortt has been at the helm for multiple Youth European Championships team and individual medal wins in recent years and will take up the role of Pony and Junior High Performance Manager.
Shortt is a decorated event rider who has competed at the very highest level, representing Ireland at the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games, as well as at the 2002 World Equestrian Games.
She has previously managed Pony, Junior and Young Rider teams to European medal success, including last year when the Junior Eventing team won silver at the FEI European Championships in Stzregom, with Tom Nestor also winning individual silver on board Cooley Diamond Dancer (ISH).
Following a request for tender process, for the delivery of high performance youth eventing services, Shortt was successful in her bid to lead the Irish Youth Eventing programme and will be joined by a top-class team of Horse Sport Ireland accredited coaches which includes Heike Holstein, Sue Smallman, Cormac Rafferty and Gerald Bloomer, who all bring a wealth of experience to the role.
Upon accepting the role, Shortt said: “I am looking forward to working with Horse Sport Ireland, the National Federation and the Pony and Junior Youth Squads for the 2025 season.
“We have a group of very talented riders in both the Pony and Junior Squads, who will be supported by a highly experienced team of HSI coaches. We will be focused on developing these riders over the coming months aiming for podium success at European level and providing a platform for them to achieve success in the future.”
It will be a typically busy summer for the youth programmes, with the FEI Eventing European Championships for Ponies take place in Le Mans, France, in late July and the championships for Juniors being held once again in Stzregom, Poland, this August as the Irish team return to a happy hunting ground following their success in 2024.
Avalon Everett, Head of Sport, Legal and Governance, said: “Sue’s appointment follows a RFT bid process, and we are delighted to confirm her as Youth High Performance Eventing Manager for the 2025 season.
“The proposal was underpinned by the expertise of the HSI coaches, who are instrumental in delivering a performance environment that develops young athletes and supports long-term success. We are confident that, with Sue’s leadership and the continued support of her coaching team, Ireland’s Pony and Junior riders will be well positioned for another strong year on the European stage and beyond.”
