EC Youth Profile Paige Smith

Capall Creek Farm LLC

Youth Western Pleasure and Hunter Under Saddle

For Western, I was Congress Champion in the Youth 11 & Under and for Hunter Under Saddle, I won the NSBA World Youth 13 & Under.

My mentor is Mr. Steve Reams. I have ridden and shown with him since I was a small fry. He is really patient with me, gives the best advice and always pumps me up to show. All of my horses have really loved him and fit well into his program. Not only is he an amazing trainer but at times he is also like my horse show “dad”.

Since I was 3 years old! I got my first pony as a surprise Christmas present at age 5. Her name is Lovey and she is the sweetest mini ever! We still go trick or treating around the neighborhood together every year. You should see some of our outfits! From there I have had so many amazing horses and I have loved them all. Chocolate on Cruise and UR Certainly Invited were my Small Fry horses and they were both so sweet and really took care of me while I was learning how to steer, let alone show. UR Certainly Invited aka Jellybean won me my first big trophy at the NSBA Worlds in the Small Fry Western Pleasure. Then, as I stepped up into the lope classes, I rode The Pineapple Xpress who taught me so much about using my feet and really how to be a showman. Together we won my first Congress Championship. Last year I made my Hunter Under Saddle debut on our great mare Red Carpet Rita. It’s kind of a crazy story because my first time ever getting in breeches and showing in the Hunt Seat was at the Congress in the Novice Youth. As my mom always says, “Go Big Or Go Home”. Rita is such an amazing show horse and loves to do her job. I just tried to stay out of her way, and it paid off because we won the NSBA and were Reserve Overall! Another fun fact is that both of the Hunt Seat mares I showed–Red Carpet Rita and WithoutYouAlBeBlue–were both in foal while I showed them, and both were Reserve Congress Champions! We always joke that their babies should have honorary Congress titles. It is pretty cool to be able to show a baby that you saw being born like I was able to do with WithoutYouAlBeBlue. I remember her when she was just hours old and then to be able to ride her to a title at the Congress is a pretty cool feeling.

What show is your favorite to compete at and why?