Senior Smith an equestrian promoter

Krista Smith’s love of horses is helping fulfill her graduation requirements at Bret Harte High School.

Smith, as her senior exit project, is staging the Calaveras Saddle Club Horse Show on Saturday at the Calaveras County Fairgrounds in Angels Camp. Competition will begin at 9 a.m. and will continue well into the afternoon.

It’s an open show, meaning competitors of all ages are welcome to enter in 37 English, jumping, Western and gymkhana divisions.

Signups will be taken right up to showtime, or contestants can enter at $4.50 per class on the show’s Web site, saddleclubhorseshow.com.

“I’ve been riding pretty much all my life and I’ve been showing for the last eight years,” said Smith, 17. “I wanted to bring more equestrian sports to Calaveras County by opening the show up and getting more riders involved.”

Smith will spend most of her time Saturday watching over the show, but said she just might sneak into the arena late in the day aboard her 7-year-old horse, Red Robin’s Kid.

“I’ll probably compete.” she said, “in a couple of gymkhana events.”

The mentor for Smith’s project is Michelle Lee, the secretary of the saddle club and a friend of Smith’s mother, Sherri.

“Word around is there will be quite a few (competitors) in attendance,” Lee said. “I think Krista is doing a great job. She’s got a Web page, she’s made flyers, and she’s gone all out promoting the show.”

The Smith family, also comprising dad Del and brother Tanner (a Bret Harte sophomore) moved to Calaveras County a little more than five years ago from Lodi. Krista has had no trouble staying busy since she came to the foothills.

“I mainly ride and play tennis (for the Bret Harte coed team), and I like to get involved in the community,” she said.

Hence the idea for the horse show.

“The first step,” she said, “was getting sponsors.”

More than 40 area residents and businesses stepped up in support of Smith and the show.

“We’ve gotten $1,600 in sponsorships — our original goal was $1,300 — for ribbons, the judge, the announcer and equipment,” she said.

Now she’s monitoring the entries and making final preparations for the show itself.

Smith said she began riding before the age of 5, and soon was taking lessons in English competition. When she acquired Red Robin’s Kid, her interest turned toward Western events.

She formerly competed in shows sanctioned by the California State Horseman’s Association and the American Quarterhorse Association.

“She’s a great rider,” Lee said. “She holds many open and 4-H awards.”

Smith has had to curtail her competitive riding to concentrate on the final months of her busy senior year.

Once she graduates, she plans to major in economics and oenology (the art of wine making). She also wants to study abroad, and then earn a masters degree in agricultural business.

But first, the show, which is keeping her on the go.   

“The club is helping her with a food booth, sign-ins and setup, but Krista is doing most of the work by herself,” Lee said. “She’s gone above and beyond.”