2009 Horsewoman of the Year

2009 Horsewoman of the Year: Krista Montgomery

Krista and her husband Shawn and children: Evan, Ashley and Melissa own and operate the MonteRay Ranch in Manvel, ND. The ranch offers boarding, training, stallion service, lessons, and show coaching, with clients ranging from children and adults that have never touched a horse, to students showing at their breeds world championship shows. At this time there are about 80 horses living at the ranch so it is definitely a busy place. Krista has been involved with horses her whole life. In the mid 1970's and early 80's Krista showed quarter horses on a regional and national level. Her favorite classes were hunter under saddle and reining. She remembers that back then hunter under saddle was called Bridle Path Hack Hunt Seat and the horses were shown with double rein pelham bit bridles and people fashioned a checkerboard shape in the horses hair on the rump. Styles and horses change but the one thing that has never changed for Krista is the fact that even after all these years she still loves her job because it has been so fun and rewarding.

Krista worked at the MonteRay when she was a teenager and began breaking horses for people at the age of 17. When she was no longer showing in youth, she began to haul some very successful youth riders to shows; training and coaching them. Krista then earned a bachelors degree in Equestrian Studies from Findlay College, Findlay, Ohio. After taking a break from the horse business to start her family, she decided to reopen her mother-in-law, Annabel Montgomey's ranch. Her greatest moments have been to witness the success of her children and her students. She is very proud of the fact that her children have become such wonderful showman but even more importantly, have developed into just plain great riders.

I would like to thank my family for putting up with our somewhat chaotic lifestyle. I am especially grateful to my children, for their grace in handling times when they have had to share their life and their mother's attention with so many other people. Also I would like to thank my husband, Shawn, because none of this would be possible without his continuing support of me and of the ranch. I want to thank the Red River Horse Breeders for honoring me in this way. It is made even more special because my late mother-in-law Annabel received this very same award many years ago. She was passionate about introducing people to horses and dedicated much of her life to promoting horses in the upper Midwest. I am more than thrilled to continue her work. Her vision was to have a ranch where any level horse and rider could learn and excel and that is what I think we are continuing to do today.