Junior Sport: Ruby Hirst continues quality riding career

In this regard, 14-year-old Ruby Hirst has continued her family's tradition in succeeding at a high level in the sport.

She said her sisters Alice and Bethany Hirst, both successful in eventing, had helped her get on the saddle.

"All their horses got passed down to me, [it] started off when I was really young [and I] loved it," the Scotch Oakburn College student said.

"It really helped having good horses, but I really liked it and thought it was really fun."

There's certainly no shortage of beloved and talented horses at Hirst's disposal, including Butterscotch Brittle, Ricci, High Expectations aka Tom, Patty and Hirst's favourite: Goosebumps.

Most recently, Hirst won the North-West EVA95 Eventing Championship, and finished sixth out of 40 in the grade two state eventing atop Goosebumps.

In previous years, Hirst has represented the state at interschool nationals twice in showjumping, combined training - placing in a number of classes.

Another highlight on Hirst's resume is competing on behalf of Tasmania at Pony Club nationals for both mounted games and tetrathlon - earning the highest placed Tasmanian overall in the competition.

While September's interschool nationals have been cancelled due to COVID-19, Hirst said she was proud to have been selected at the very least.

"It's really good, we're lucky we got some riding in between the coronavirus stuff so that was good," she said.

"It's right up there to be selected as well as a few other events that counted towards it as well."

But Hirst's riding repertoire will not canter into the sunset anytime soon, with the teenager eager to continue the sport for many years to come.

"I hope to go up the grades on Patty and hopefully get around to four-star," she said.

"I'll definitely keep on going and probably start my own stud and bring up horses to compete at a high level."