Back To School With Missy Smith

So speaking of work and the fact that you probably have more than your share to do, you have been really involved in UPHA.

Yes.

And

can you speak to how you got started at UPHA? And then that also, you kind of moved right up the ranks there.

And then maybe talk a little bit about why you got involved at UPHA.

I think my first, I have to think back because it's been a minute.

I want to say my first experience with the UPHA was being on the Equitation Committee, being a member of it.

And I can tell you from the time I was asked to be on it, I thought, what can I bring to the table? I didn't, I was surrounded by people that I saw in my eyes as mentors and legends in our industry.

And I thought, what in the world can I

bring to the table for that?

But for anybody who's been on that quotation committee, you realize it's a very collaborative group of people.

that are working hard for the integrity of the industry and for the growth of equitation and riders in general.

And it's people with good ideas.

It's people who brainstorm.

And honestly, it's a group of people who have gone through all of the levels of the industry and can really offer each other perspective, which is really, I think, the core of the UPHA.

You know, it's professional horsemen helping each other.

And I feel like it's so important that the professionals can work together.

And I know that there are times that there are struggles with that, but I think that's probably why I believe in the UPHA because I think we're constantly looking at ways to make the industry better.

And after...

My equitation committee was the start of it.

I want to say maybe, I don't know, chronologically, this is going to be hard.

It all comes together in my head.

I was the chair for the UPHA Chapter 5 for a few years, and I enjoyed that a lot.

I learned a lot about putting on horses.

I learned a lot about the structure of committees and And chapters.