There are other horse shows across the many wonderful equestrian barns that dot the landscape of the sport locally, and right across Northern Ontario.

Simply put, however, they are NOT the Rick Smith Memorial.

So christened in the summer of 2008 following the sudden unexpected passing of the man who was the “blood, sweat and tears” of the Foothills facility (in the words of his wife and Sudbury Sports Hall of Famer Cathy Inch), the event ascended to a whole other level in the eyes of the northeast equestrian community and beyond.

For so many, this event holds a very special place – for a whole variety of different reasons.

Kate Austin began riding at Foothills at the age of ten – in 1990.

“I stayed on and did everything I could here: horse showing and camp counselling, working as a barn girl,” said the now mid-forties rider who made her way up from Huntsville earlier this week, along with her 12 year-old daughter (and fellow rider), Lucy (Cantelon).

A comfort in mounting a horse gave way, pretty quickly, to competing in shows, almost by osmosis, as Austin recalled. “It was just the nature of this place,” she explained, reflecting on her move into the rings, with judges on the sidelines. “There were shows going on and they started at the schooling level and then on to Trillium, with some riders on the “A” (national) circuit.”

“The environment here just kind of encouraged you to work towards those goals.”

But for as much as her competitive nature might have given rise to her earliest forays in tackling a hunter or jumper division, or possibly an equitation bracket, the attraction of the shows runs much deeper than that.

“You would see all of your friends from other places; there was just a buzz at this barn for every show,” said Austin. “That’s why I am back again this weekend, to live some of those same memories.”

For that, and a love of those who are and were so central to all that is Foothills Farm.

“I was here for the first Rick Smith Memorial in 2008,” noted Austin. “Those early shows were humongous. People flocked in from everywhere. There were people here who probably did not even show on the Trillium circuit regularly, but they came here for Cathy, to show their support and be part of it.”

And in the spirit of the man for whom it is now named, they come to celebrate all that it is to be part of this niche but quite special grouping of people and personalities. Plenty of other events around the province will draw out the truly elite riders in Ontario– but this weekend in the back woods of Chelmsford is all about fun and gathering and growing.

Few disciplines capture this mantra more than the famed “Saturday afternoon derby”.

Excited to enter the ring aboard the Rick Smith Memorial mainstay that is Rockerfeller – “he’s a well-known entity around here” – Austin also knows that the schedule cut-off for this horse is right around noon, a few hours before the derby participants will gather.

Plan “B”, in her mind, is not at all bad.

“He is a morning horse; I know this about him,” Austin opined. “I have ridden other people’s horses in the derby – and it’s a great class – but it’s also not a bad thing to be parked with a glass of wine, watching the derby when you have already put your horse away and completed your show.”

Leah Blanchette is likely to be too busy to be enjoying a relaxing glass of wine – at least not until Sunday evening perhaps, once the show is wrapped and bowed for another year. That much hasn’t changed a whole lot for the 29 year-old who qualified for the Royal Fair on three separate occasions as a junior, more than a decade ago.

Life might find her now at a different place, but when it comes to competing at this or any other show, Blanchette remains steadfast in her approach. “I am very organized and diligent,” said Blanchette. “It does not matter whether it’s a schooling show or the Royal or a clinic, I like to have everything prepare before-hand.”

“In that sense, it’s all pretty much the same.”

Having competed at this event countless times over, Blanchette has partnered with her fair share of “horse personalities”, if you will – and she loves the fit with A Dinabell Z as she brings the six year old to the Rick Smith Memorial for the first time.

“She is younger, but doesn’t ride like a young horse,” said Blanchette. “She’s very brave and very honest – and she’s an old soul – but she is still green, without a lot of experience under her belt. 99% of the time, she never puts a foot wrong – but the very odd time, she might spook at a jump or might have silly little moments.”

“It’s just her inexperience.”

Thankfully, Leah Blanchette can more than compensate in that area. One of the most successful riders that Foothills has produced in the past twenty years, the young woman who picked up the sport at the age of seven has carved out a very well deserved reputation in these parts.

“I am definitely a very calm, quiet rider in the sense that I don’t like to interfere with them and I don’t make big movements,” said Blanchette. “I allow the horse to have their own natural rhythm. There is no panic to my ride. The horses tend to feel that, so there is no panic to them.”

Tackling the 2.9” adult hunter division, Blanchette and Dina are gearing up for (hopefully) another run at the Royal next year, garnering the necessary foundational experience together this summer, largely on the Trillium circuit.

And truth be told, of the various stops on the Trillium circuit, few have quite the same appeal as the Rick Smith Memorial, which runs all day on Saturday and Sunday at Foothills Farm.

The Rick Smith Memorial Show would not be possible without the generous support of their sponsors: Hawson International, Frontline Equine Sports Therapy, Running Fox, Bedford Jones, Painted Acres, Greenhawk Sudbury, Brooks Feed - Polyglycan, Louise Paquette, TES Inc (Whynott Family), Montpellier Fars, BGL Property Management (Groom), Northern Legacy Horse Farm and Henry Equestrian Insurance Company