In the dozen years since she graduated from University of Lynchburg, Cira Pace Malta ‘05 has continued her communications career as well as equestrian competition. This fall she has qualified for spots in three major indoor riding competitions, including the Pennsylvania National Horse Show.
“It literally is a dream come true,” she recently told The Chronicle of the Horse, an online equestrian newspaper. “It’s the goal I’ve always had since I was little, and for it to finally come true was the biggest moment ever for my riding career.”
Cira’s mother and trainer got her into riding as a hobby when she was only 4.
“Before college, I competed on the national level in the pony hunter divisions and then came to LC where I was lucky enough to ride with J.T. Tallon,” she said, referencing a previous Lynchburg equestrian coach. “I had a very successful college riding career in the IHSA and even competed at Nationals,” she said.
She spent her time at University of Lynchburg showing in Intercollegiate Horse Show Association shows and “taking communications classes with the most amazing professors in the world,” she said. “I am so lucky to have found University of Lynchburg.”
Cira graduated with a degree in communication studies in 2005. Today, she continues to ride and show with her horse, True North. In addition to her job as a technical writer for Sikorsky Aircraft, where she writes manuals for Sikorsky helicopter pilots, she helps her mother expand their farm in Connecticut. “I do all of the social media, marketing, web design/management, scheduling and I also handle the care of our clients’ ponies and horses and ride them too,” she said.
Horse riding and showing is a passion for Cira, and even after a long day at work, she can “go straight to the barn and ride for a few hours every afternoon.”
